56 fairlane: your last post has me scratching my head (am I the only one?)  Are you sure the exhaust leak is from the intake manifold?  The crossover holes if plugged properly shouldn't leak.  Maybe its from the exhaust manifold below?  Some use gaskets on them when retro fitting to avoid leaks.. Also check the intake for a crack somewhere, maybe it was dropped or something like that?. Never heard of one being warped or whatever.. Good luck 


Paul

My exhaust manifolds aren't leaking as far as I can tell. I can't find any leaks when it's idling. It only makes a pfft pfft pfft sound while driving. I've even checked the heat riser and it moves freely. I'm so stumped but I don't want to take it to a mechanic that I know. it's just kicking my butt.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

I finally found the source of the leak. It turns out it wasn't even an exhaust leak. The source of the sound was caused by the vacuum lines being switched at the top of the fuel pump. It made a phfft phfft sound that sounded a lot like an exhaust leak. Oddly it sounded like it was coming from the passenger side but that wasn't the case. I changed the the passenger side exhaust manifold gasket. I eliminated the heat riser thinking it was the source but it wasn't. I even put the original A intake manifold back with the teapot and that didn't help. I was really stumped. The sound only occurred while accelerating. I couldn't duplicate the sound while the car was standing still and revving the engine. The thought of switching the two vacuum lines around on the fuel pump came out of the blue. Sure enough that solved it. I would have never thought the pump lines could be switched and cause problems.
Finally the problem has been solved!


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles