No gasket on exhaust manifold on my 85?!?!?!?!?

[Datsunboy]

Guys, took off my manifold and welded the split back together today. That dang thing looked like the #5 cyl was about to drop off, it was cracked 75% of the way around the weld.

Anyway, when I took off the manifold, low and behold there was NO gasket! This thing wasnt leaking either (that I know of). Did buick send em out with no gaskets?

Now that I welded on the manifold im sure it needs a gasket. What kind should I use? Part numbers would be awesome.

Thanks guys - Evan

 

[FJM568]

Turbo Buicks never had exhaust manifold gaskets...You should've had the cracks welded with the manifold bolted up to a junk head or clamped down to a heavy welding table to keep warpage to a minimum...

One thing that has been done in the past is to cut the flanges between the ports with a hacksaw or a cutoff wheel to allow each tube/flange to be separate from the others so that it would seal flat...Some say that doing that will stress the tubes different and cause it to crack again...

The other option is to take it to a machine shop and have the flange milled flat again...

Or some even use gaskets, but they will probably blow out from the high heat after a while, which will force you to do replace them over and over and......

Hope this answers your question...

edit...Also check for cracks around where the number #2 cyl tube meets up with the main tube going to the up-pipe connection...Mine was cracked almost all the way around there, too on my 85 GN...

 

[Datsunboy]

Wow, wierd. Learn something new everyday I guess.

Thanks jim, ill check it with a straightedge, and if shes outta plane i can drop it by the machine shop for a quick surfacing job.

Thanks again - Evan