2003 Exhaust manifold

[Xlax]

So My 2nd manifold has crapped out, Having a good dealership is worth soo much. I talked to them and asked if they could replace the 2001 Manifold with the stronger and re-designed 2003. as I write this my truck is on the hoist, they are not sure it will fit but will do it at no extra charge if they can get it in. A fellow PNWX'er suggested it would ad about 5-10 hp to the truck to wich the dealership seems to agree...

Stay tuned.

Claus

[OffroadX]

Please get part numbers for old and new.

Thanks,
Brent

[Schludwiller]

Mine is done today!! Talking with the service rep, he said all manifolds are supposed to be replaced with the most recent one, so theoretically you wouldn't need to ask, but I checked with them twice to make sure.

BTW, good thing it was under warranty, they said mine was a pain in the ass to get off.

[Xlax]

Originally posted by OffroadX
Please get part numbers for old and new.

Thanks,
Brent

Not so!. I asked why they just did not scrap the old ones and used the 2003. I was advised that they have different part numbers for the different year models.

I have a vioce mail into the dealership trying to get the part number as it did not appear on my invoice.

Nice dealership, they rotated my tires and tightened the handbrake at no charge.

[Schludwiller]

Well I guess the moral of the story is to ask before they do it. I got a different story in that the service updates include the latest parts Nissan advises.

So more HP eh? It will be interesting to hear my truck. I think that manifold has been broken half the truck's life.

[Xlax]

You said Eh,

Might just be me but I seem to feel it being a bit more "lively"

They also recommended a "level5" serivce on the truck. I asked what that was adn was told the following:

1. Rotate tires Whoohooo
2. Change Oil and Filter Whohooo
3. Inspect Brakes double Whohoo
4. Change all fluids Whohooo
5. Measure exhaust levels (just had it Aircared for $48)
6. test allignment...again Whohoo
7. new sparkplugs

I was advised this service comes to $600 canadian including parts....WTF do I have SUCKER written on the back of my shirt. I told him that I would do 98% of it myself where after he looked like a schoolkid caught cheating

[Schludwiller]

Plugs are good for 100k miles.

As you already know, fluids we do with the club GL4 oil, and repack our own bearings.

I had them check out the brakes, just because they've been acting weird lately.

New belts because I don't want to mess with that, and I think Carlton's message about replacing belts was a good reminder after he lost one in Moab.

The one that cracked me up was replace radiator cap at 60k miles (my dealer didn't suggest it, but it's listed). Wow, I sure need a service department for that.

What's sad is that a disreputable service department can really rip off an unsuspecting customer if they want.

[ChuckH]

Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but nobody is going to get 5-10 HP off one factory manifold unless yours was plugged up. Your truck will sound better though; at least until the new one cracks.

My driver's side manifold is cracked now...hopefully i will be doing headers and high flow cats this fall.

[Schludwiller]

Hey back off buddy! I've already got HP gains from the 2 stickers I put on my truck.

All I care about is that the damn thing doesn't crack. Or if it does, it happens befor my warranty is out.

[ChuckH]

Well I've got those nice big Calmini stickers and those are worth mucho power gains!

[Walrus]

Just a thought.. but when my manifold starts leaking, I plan on going to the dealer here, who is very friendly, and getting the replacement manifold from them, get it ceramic coated inside and out, then take it back and have it put on. That should keep it from rusting out again.

Any thoughts why this wouldn't work?

[evergreen]

Originally posted by Walrus
Just a thought.. but when my manifold starts leaking, I plan on going to the dealer here, who is very friendly, and getting the replacement manifold from them, get it ceramic coated inside and out, then take it back and have it put on. That should keep it from rusting out again.

Any thoughts why this wouldn't work?

as far as i know it has nothing to do with rust.

[Schludwiller]

As Evergreen says, it's a design flaw that's existed since the creation of the engine, not a rust problem.

[Xlax]

Originally posted by evergreen


as far as i know it has nothing to do with rust.

Yeah what he said

[OffroadX]

Yup, the newer one is supposed to be thicker/stronger. The underlying problem is the fact that the block and manifold heat at different rates and there is thermal expansion stress going on. Originally back in the VG30 days, the manifold would pull away from the block and break the studs. Nissan started putting in larger studs later on and the problem became cracked manifolds instead. Presumably the stronger manifold will do the trick, assuming the larger studs can handle the stress that it will put on them.

Brent