F-150 falling apart

[97PA150]

Alright guys, I'm new on this board but I post on other boards and know how much help they can be.
I have a 97 F-150 Extended cab 4x4 auto 4.6 liter (with cold air intake) rollin on factory 16's.
I just turned 115,000 miles and have owned it since junior year in high school (I'm 20).

I'll try to keep this short.....
I have a leak in my back window...right now theres a tarp over it in my dorm parking lot (not a way to get the ladies) Have any of you guys/girls replaced your weather stripping around the window? should I save it for home or the pros? It just finished raining all day yesterday and I pulled sopping wet towels from my back seat. Its coming in from above the headliner above the rear window.

My exhaust manifolds are factory and exremely rusty (I live in the northeast) Just looking at them makes me want to jump on a tetanus needle. I noticed them glowing cherry red after running for five minutes. This was after the truck sat for four days. The ambient temp was probably in the 50s-60s. This is a BIG worry for me. I am thinking (with my limited mechanical mind) that the heat conducting capacity of the metal is reduced because of the rust. i.e. the headers are thinner and therefor would be more likely to glow red. I checked ALL my fluids (even my transfer case just for s & giggles). My truck doesn't run rough, it idles like normal at 600 rpm when warm. My gauges aren't telling me anything out of the ordinary. ANY THOUGHTS???

It did this one day, but not the next. I than ran some errands around town and I parked it and checked the manifolds and sure enough, cherries...

Oh and while I'm on it, my left bank head gasket is leaking. I'm using a bit of oil but not much.
That's about it for questions you guys can help me with.
I appreciate any help.

97PA150

[unclebubbles]

Originally Posted by 97PA150

Alright guys, I'm new on this board but I post on other boards and know how much help they can be.
I have a 97 F-150 Extended cab 4x4 auto 4.6 liter (with cold air intake) rollin on factory 16's.
I just turned 115,000 miles and have owned it since junior year in high school (I'm 20).

I'll try to keep this short.....
I have a leak in my back window...right now theres a tarp over it in my dorm parking lot (not a way to get the ladies) Have any of you guys/girls replaced your weather stripping around the window? should I save it for home or the pros? It just finished raining all day yesterday and I pulled sopping wet towels from my back seat. Its coming in from above the headliner above the rear window.

My exhaust manifolds are factory and exremely rusty (I live in the northeast) Just looking at them makes me want to jump on a tetanus needle. I noticed them glowing cherry red after running for five minutes. This was after the truck sat for four days. The ambient temp was probably in the 50s-60s. This is a BIG worry for me. I am thinking (with my limited mechanical mind) that the heat conducting capacity of the metal is reduced because of the rust. i.e. the headers are thinner and therefor would be more likely to glow red. I checked ALL my fluids (even my transfer case just for s & giggles). My truck doesn't run rough, it idles like normal at 600 rpm when warm. My gauges aren't telling me anything out of the ordinary. ANY THOUGHTS???

It did this one day, but not the next. I than ran some errands around town and I parked it and checked the manifolds and sure enough, cherries...

Oh and while I'm on it, my left bank head gasket is leaking. I'm using a bit of oil but not much.
That's about it for questions you guys can help me with.
I appreciate any help.

97PA150

Check the timing to see if it has moved somehow. Retarded timing can cause this, by letting the fuel charge be ignited on the downstroke while the exhaust valve is starting to open. The computer will try to compensate for this, by adjusting fuel , idle air valve ect. to maintain the idle speed. Its possible the engine jumped time a couple of teeth, a timing check, (ignition, and cam) will tell you. Those exhausts would have to be paper thin otherwise. Good luck, tell us what you find
Later
Ed

[trueblue00]

the manifolds might be glowing because you might have a plugged cat

[97PA150]

Originally Posted by trueblue00

the manifolds might be glowing because you might have a plugged cat

I never thought of that...how can I check it visually
Thanks

97PA150

[transgta]

after running at night look at cat see if its glowing thats a pretty good idea its clogged if glowing