replaced studs and manifold gaskets, still appears to leak?

[blueblitzpup]

Hi everyone, I've been working on my turbo 86 for a little while now (bought it with a blown head gasket) and today I finally started it back up. It seems to run well, but it also seems to have a leak on the exhaust manifolds; the passenger side especially.

I know it may be hard to tell if it is indeed coming from the manifolds as the exhaust is open only around 2 inches after the turbo (doing exhaust work) so some exhaust is coming back into the engine compartment, but it still appears to be coming from elsewhere as well.

When I had the heads off of the car, I put new studs in for both sides, cleaned the mating surfaces, and used new gaskets, and torqued the bolts in the proper order to spec. So I'm confused as to why it is appearing to still leak; are my manifolds warped, and if so, that badly? Does anyone have any insight on this?

[evildky]

These manifolds are notorious for cracking, so it could be cracked have you really inspected it? Did there appear to be a leak when you took it apart? did you check the manifold surface for flatness? The manifold could simply be tweaked a bit and not yet leaking, you can also try using some RTV copper on both sides of the gasket.

[blueblitzpup]

There was a crack on the one manifold that I had repaired, I admit I didn't check the flatness of the manifolds mating surface but I didn't think they would be warped that badly.

Is there a reasonably easy way to tell if they aren't seating all the way around without taking them off?

[evildky]

you can listen with a mechanics stethoscope or or feel for a leak with a small piece of very thin foil although that method is only really plausible on the top. Yeah if the manifold cracked it's because it was twisting, welding likely make it worse, I'd pull it off and have a machine shop mill the surface.

[blueblitzpup]

The side that was welded is actually leaking less than the other; but I'm guessing the only real way to remove the manifold is to take the heads off again, isn't it?

[evildky]

You don't have to pull the heads just the manifolds.

[blueblitzpup]

Ok I just wasn't sure if there was enough room to get the manifolds out with the engine in the car

[evildky]

I believe It can be done in the car. I'd pull the engine before I pulled the head.

[blueblitzpup]

Should have responded to this a while ago, but it turns out it was just all of the oils from cleaning parts burning off of the manifolds. All seems to be well exhaust wise!