If my exhaust manifold were to crack, would it be in a particular place?

 

The 12 valves usually crack where the bolts hold down at the #1 and #6 cylinders. Most 24s and some 12s crack exactly in the middle underneath

 

I replaced all the gaskets hoping to end my tick/ping/miss sound but didnt help. Guess I should remove the manifold completely and check it with dye penetrant under a blacklight. This sound is really eating at me and I would like to find something external before I start tearing things apart. The only reason I havnt done that yet is because I have not eliminated all external possibilities as of yet. My new exhaust should be here today or tomorrow and I am going to completely go over the exhaust system and hopefully find what was wrong and have it go away with my new parts.