Bought an '07 v8 - and need an exhaust manifold. Options?

[dsieber]

Hi all,

So - I just picked up my new to me '07 T4R v8 w/119,000 km (74k miles). Overall, it's in excellent shape, but it looks like I've joined the club of people with a leaking exhaust manifold (right side).

Short version - looking for alternatives to the $$$$ stock ones, in a hurry, as I need to fix this to be able to register the vehicle.

Long version:

I've been digging through all the threads, and so far, I've learned:
1) It's common
2) the Toyota manifold is known to do it, a replacement is $$$$, and it'll quite possibly happen again.

I'm trying to find out what my options are. I've seen mention of a replacement from Pacesetter, but it looks like it only fits the non-VVTI engines?

Magnaflow seems to have one, but I'm having a hard time finding any info aside from one review online where the person was really unhappy with the build quality.

And there's a few options listed here:
06 2006 Toyota 4Runner Exhaust Manifold with Integrated Catalytic Converter - Exhaust - Bosal, Dorman, Eastern Catalytic, Walker, Front Left, Front Right, Left, Right - PartsGeek

But again, haven't found any real comments on any of these.

Anyone out there have any advice?

Thanks!
Dirk

 

[dkyleb]

Doug Thorley headers...

 

[dsieber]

Doug Thorley headers...

Thanks - missed that option! Looking into those right now. People happy with them?

 

[eatpancakes]

I bought the Magnaflow headers for my 2003 v8 (49339 & 49340) and I thought the quality was excellent. Much thicker tubing than stock and no worry of it cracking like the OEM one. It's still expensive mostly due to the CAT being attached to it, and if you go to a shop to do the repair I think it's 7-8 hour "book" job per side...so not a cheap fix.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Problem is the Doug Thorleys don't come with catalytic converters and the OP mentioned he needs them fixed to pass inspection. So he'd have to shell $800 for the headers and additional money for labor to replace them and carve up the old ones and weld the cats to them.

I recall a member or two having good luck with just having the damage MIG or TIG welded, but you still need to pull the headers off to do the repair either way...

 

[dsieber]

Problem is the Doug Thorleys don't come with catalytic converters and the OP mentioned he needs them fixed to pass inspection. So he'd have to shell $800 for the headers and additional money for labor to replace them and carve up the old ones and weld the cats to them.

I recall a member or two having good luck with just having the damage MIG or TIG welded, but you still need to pull the headers off to do the repair either way...

Yeah, needing the cats is a good point - I've just been reading the installation instructions for the Doug Thorleys and trying to figure out if the extra time & effort is worth it. Off to talk to my usual shop today to see what they think. Otherwise, guess it'll be the Magnaflows.

I don't really want to try to just patch the stock ones, as I'm worried about them just failing again down the road.

Thanks guys!

 

[srs034runner]

My exhaust shop I go to took the manifold off repaired the cracks, and re welded all the welds to help with longevity ... $280.00 ... You can see if someone can do the same around you!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yeah, needing the cats is a good point - I've just been reading the installation instructions for the Doug Thorleys and trying to figure out if the extra time & effort is worth it. Off to talk to my usual shop today to see what they think. Otherwise, guess it'll be the Magnaflows.

I don't really want to try to just patch the stock ones, as I'm worried about them just failing again down the road.

Thanks guys!

If you get them TIG welded properly they won't crack/perforate most likely. This video is pretty good at showing the problem and fix.

http://youtu.be/LO1XgdT4J_U

 

[harryJ]

OP, I am curious as to what you ended up doing? I have the same issue and really don't want to pay the crazy prices.

 

[dsieber]

OP, I am curious as to what you ended up doing? I have the same issue and really don't want to pay the crazy prices.

I ended up going with the Doug Thorley headers. The price of the OEMs was just insane, so it made sense to look at something else. I thought about trying to have the OEM versions repaired, but with going through the time & effort to get everything apart, I figured I'd go ahead and replace them with a new product, with a warranty.

It's been a few weeks now, and so far, I'm very happy. The installation went well, cutting off & re-welding the cats wasn't much of an issue, and my truck is running very well. The biggest pain was just waiting for the shipment to come in with the parts!

Dirk

 

[derekdevasia]

My exhaust shop I go to took the manifold off repaired the cracks, and re welded all the welds to help with longevity ... $280.00 ... You can see if someone can do the same around you!

Could you tell me which exhaust shop did that for you? Was it in Lynchburg? I'm not too far away and would love for a cheap fix instead of shelling out a couple thousand.

 

[harryJ]

I ended up going with the Doug Thorley headers. The price of the OEMs was just insane, so it made sense to look at something else. I thought about trying to have the OEM versions repaired, but with going through the time & effort to get everything apart, I figured I'd go ahead and replace them with a new product, with a warranty.

It's been a few weeks now, and so far, I'm very happy. The installation went well, cutting off & re-welding the cats wasn't much of an issue, and my truck is running very well. The biggest pain was just waiting for the shipment to come in with the parts!

Dirk

That's very good to hear. So they were a direct fit, except for the cats which had to be welded on? Any other parts you needed?

 

[Krayziekid]

I ended up going with the Doug Thorley headers. The price of the OEMs was just insane, so it made sense to look at something else. I thought about trying to have the OEM versions repaired, but with going through the time & effort to get everything apart, I figured I'd go ahead and replace them with a new product, with a warranty.

It's been a few weeks now, and so far, I'm very happy. The installation went well, cutting off & re-welding the cats wasn't much of an issue, and my truck is running very well. The biggest pain was just waiting for the shipment to come in with the parts!

Dirk

Thanks for your thoughts. I have the cracked manifold too and I am considering the Doug Thorley headers. Any improvement in terms of engine sound, MPG, throttle response, etc?

And, if you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost for you to get them installed?

 

[srs034runner]

Wes' custom muffler and pipe shop in Madison heights va! Let me know If that what you decide to do, I'll meet you over there, I know the owner pretty well! He does awesome work! That was him fixing the existing manifold, I ended up putting a new manifold on so I paid just under $700, that was because my manifold was beyond fixing, and had bad weld cracks!

Could you tell me which exhaust shop did that for you? Was it in Lynchburg? I'm not too far away and would love for a cheap fix instead of shelling out a couple thousand.

 

[derekdevasia]

Do you mean you paid just under 700 for the headers? Or the install? And I might have to contact you pretty soon about that! Looking to get this done before the end of July!

 

[dsieber]

That's very good to hear. So they were a direct fit, except for the cats which had to be welded on? Any other parts you needed?

Yep - they fit, no problem. No other parts that I know of - my mechanic did the actual installation, but he didn't mention any issues, aside from trying to get his fingers deep into the engine to get to one bolt.

 

[dsieber]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have the cracked manifold too and I am considering the Doug Thorley headers. Any improvement in terms of engine sound, MPG, throttle response, etc?

And, if you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost for you to get them installed?

The engine sound seems to be pretty much stock, aside from a bit of a throatier noise if you really step on it.

I can't really comment on response or MPG as I didn't have the truck for very long before I had the work done. I can tell you that the MPG on the dash display has improved from the previous owner, but no idea how they drove. ;-)

Installation wasn't cheap, but I was in a bit of a bind and didn't have the time or all the tools (i.e., the welding equipment) to do it myself. I had some other little odds and ends done at the same time, but I think the cost of the install was probably the equivalent of $800 or so US. I had no problem with that. To give you an idea, to do *one* side, my local Toyota dealership quoted me $2680 Cdn, w/tax. (Just under $2k US).

HTH,
Dirk

 

[nick_rabbo]

So I'm new to 4Runners as I just got mine last week. Apparently it's a known issue that the manifolds go bad? How can you check this so I can check mine?

Thanks

 

[neoguri]

So I'm new to 4Runners as I just got mine last week. Apparently it's a known issue that the manifolds go bad? How can you check this so I can check mine?

Thanks

I got mine back in April so I'm fairly new too. Here is the ticking noise on mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shF_cpJ7M4Y