I found that I have a broken exhaust bolt on number 6. is this a common problem? Should I be thinking of swapping the exhaust manifold to one of those cool 3 piece ones? Hope there is some of the bolt still sticking out of the block to work with.

 

Yeah, good excuse to buy a nice aftermarket manifold. Good luck getting the bolt extracted!

 

is this bolt breaking all by itself a common thing. I have heard of exhaust manifolds cracking on cars but the bolt just breaking is wierd to me.

 

I wouldn't say the manifolds cracking is "common" on a 5.9, but it does happen. I haven't heard of a bolt breaking tho.

 

Thats what I thought. I had never heard or read of it. I told my brother that I thought I had an exhaust leak and he says well the number 6 bolts break. I am like really never heard that. Look under my hood and there is number 6 bolt head dangling from that metal holder clip thing.

 

never heard of it on cummins, but it happens often on powerstrokes

 

I have a friend with one of the Chevy 454 SS trucks and he continually breaks exhaust manifold fold bolts. He is still trying to find some that won't break.

 

Thats pretty crazy. I guess there must be a whole lot of expansion on the manifold and it rips the bolts in 2

 

I would put a straight edge across manifold check for warpage. If it's warped scrap it and get yourself a new manifold. Lesson learned