Been tearing down my 95 Jeep GC with 4.0 for several reasons (timing chain, gaskets, seals etc.) but one was because of a slight exhaust leak. I assumed it was a gasket but after pulling the header I found a 2 inch crack where the 2 pipes join into the single outlet. I only have an arc (stick) welder and pretty decent at welding but I noticed that after 270k miles the manifold has hardly any rust. Is the manifold some sort of alloy mix that might take a special kind of rod? Could I get by with a 6013 rod or possibly a 7018 rod for high strength steels? Thanks!!

I might be able to get you a manifold locally for pretty cheap. I know of 2 Cherokees sitting at my favorite salvage yard. Let me know.

Thanks for the offer but my plans are to get the Jeep back on the road sometime tonight. It's 70 deg here today and a cold front is coming in the middle of the night with forcast of mid 20's. I hate working in the cold sh!t. So if somebody could tell me if the material is carbon steel or high strength I can go from there. Or if somebody has already welded one up they could tell me what method they used. My dad has a nice mig but he's half blind and I've never mig welded. Thanks!

You are better off with the mig and an 0.28 wire. The stick will burn through. The header pipe is thin. Better if you have access to a tig welder.

For future reference I read somewhere the header is stainless. I went ahead and welded with a stick and used 6013 rod. Welds came out pretty good and should last as long as I need it - at least until I put a long tube header on......