Welding a stock exhaust manifold

[1BADGTO]

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!!

[mx52nv]

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.

[1BADGTO]

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!

[croozer]

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.

[1BADGTO]

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......