How long does it take to replace the exhaust manifold gasket?..and, if it's cracked or broken, can it effect the cars performance?

 

It shouldnt hurt performance but it should be loud as hell...its not that hard to replace you can try to do it from the exhaust manifold and push it back off the block and replace it that way or go from the cats up and take all that off and then easily slide the manifold off. i would go the first way....

 

Ok, cool. I'll atempt to replace it from the top...are there any parts to move out the way before I can get to it?

 

Do you maen the gasket from manifold-engine, or manifold-pre-cat? If it is to the precat, its easy, maybe 1/2 hour tops, because sometimes the bolts can be rusted and be a bitch to get off. If you mean the manifold-engine gasket, plan on a whole day. Thats alot of stuff to take off. I could probably do it in an aftenoon, but Ive had the intake manifold off many times and know my way around down there very well. Both could hinder performance by creating turbulance in the exhasut.

*edit*-after reading my post, it sounds like Im telling you that the IM need to come off. They dont, I was just saying that if you had experience down there that the job will go much faster. It is a very tight space down there, and hard to get to stuff. Make sure to soak the bolts down with PB Blaster or liquid wrench or some kind of penetrating oil, maybe even 24Hrs before you get started. If you snap off a bolt, your pretty much screwed.

 

EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET...A whole day????..I guess I have to remove the auxiliary port valve actuators and air control valve?

 

Hehe, well I dont know how mechanically inclined you are. Of course if you have access to good tools and are good at this kinda stuff, you can have it done it a couple hours or less. But believe me, I know many people that this job would take up a whole day, sorry to insult you

 

This will be my first time doing it..I have the manual, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to do it from under the car.

 

you didn't insult me...I just freaked out when I read ALL DAY!!!!....I was thinking maybe 6 hours or so, but I don't know!