I had an exhaust leak @ No.1 & No.6. Pulled off the manifold, went to re-install it and the holes don't line up. It appears the manifold is slightly bent. Cant see it with the naked eye untill it is up next to the head. I'm not willing to pay $550 for a 2 or 3 piece manifold right now. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Depending on "how" bent you could always have a shop, heat and cool it back "bend it the other way", however what I would do is fine a machine shop that can deck heads, and see if they can just re surface the whole thing (cost you a few bucks) but like you said less than a new one (maybe a junk yard would have a stocker?)

 

they shrink my 1st gen is really shrunk. you could get 2 new gaskets and see if it seals. also you could port the manifold a little bit on those cylinders and try to get it to seal i also did this on my 1st gen worked great.

 

Why not just get another stocker from classified? I have a stock 05 with 21k on it or a ATS with 52 k. going to twin garrets!

 

Take it to a machine shop and have it machined back flat. That will get you by.