has anyone ever had their exhaust manifold leak or crack?? iread in diesel power a long time ago that the 12v cummins do do that and i as wondering if anyone had that issue. i hear this weird ticking noise and for some reason i think its coming from the exhaust manifold. it sounds like its on the bottom side.is this a common issue?

 

Very common. The manifolds shrink over time from the heat. You may get away with just new gaskets if it's not shrunk too bad.

 

theres one at the local junkyard, im thinkin of pulling it and inspecting it to see if its cracked and giving it a go. i need the radiator to so i might as well take a look at it, while im at it i might snag the turbo for sum ideas i have.....

 

mine sounded the same, bought the gaskets two weeks later before i put the new gaskets in the head gasket blew. it was leaking exhaust from 3 or 4 cylinders into the air under the exhaust manifold.
hopefully you are luckier than me and its just the gaskets or the manifold

 

Don't spend much money on a used stock manifold.