The cracked exhaust manifold is a fairly common problem. You could have it =
welded, but make sure the welder knows how to handle cast iron. Otherwise, =
it will probably crack again. Some welders recommend heating the manifold =
before welding it. Done properly, it should be OK.
I'd personally suggest using a good used or NOS manifold, just to save a =
hassle. It might even be cheaper than having the cast iron welded =
properly.
In either case, make sure that the mating surface on the manifold is =
perfectly flat before bolting it to the block. If you notice any high =
spots, carefully file or mill them off flat. This will help prevent =
stress. Also, use a fresh gasket and torque the mounting bolts evenly. =
Don't overtorque. Anything you can do to reduce internal stresses will be =
helpful.
As to the parking brake, parts are plentiful, either new or used. It =
shouldn't take long to install a few new parts. I suspect that you'll need =
to fix it to get a safety inspection sticker anyway. Note: If the surface =
of the drum is in bad shape, I'd replace it so that it doesnt shred a new =
brake band lining.
Have fun,
Alan
===
To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.