Cracked Exhaust Manifold on I6 292

[Joe4372]

Last month I traded in a Corolla for an '84 C20 with a straight 6 292.  I got cash back in the deal and I don't feel like such a wuss when I sit in it, but at the same time there's plenty of work to be done. 

The exhaust manifold has a crack.  It had a pretty mundane exhaust leak until this weekend, when it just went wild.  The main source of the problem right now is not the crack, but probably where the bolts around the o ring gasket connecting to the pipe came loose, and I imagine it just blew out the gasket.  We tightened it as much as possible to get it home (I was in Myrtle Beach, had to get back to Richmond today, about 360 miles).  Anyway its fine, but I want to go ahead and get everything taken care of so I assume the way to go is just to get a new exhaust manifold.

This is my second Chevy truck (second '84, actually, but the last one had a 350 and was a whole different beast), so I know that cracked/warped exhaust manifolds are pretty common.  If I can even find one in a junkyard is it worth it?  Will it probably be damaged too?  Where to if not there?

Any tips to taking off an exhaust manifold that has been on there almost my entire life?  Also, it looks like all of the emissions equipment has been removed in the past.

I want to keep it cheap, so getting headers isn't really an option.  Besides the cost of headers for this engine, it would require getting a new pipe to the cat, at the very least (and to not be a total cheapie, an entire exhaust). 

Any damage being done by just driving it this way? 

Thanks for any help

[beastie_3]

When you take the manifold off, try not to bust the bolts. Soak them real good with wd40 or PB. Heat is good also.

Since your truck doesnt have the smog equipment, I would save up and get the header, take that cat out and get new exhaust. At the very least, you can hook up the header to the piping that is already there with a new piece.

[Blazin]

I have always found if the bolts are in poor shape. Cut the heads off, slide the manifold off the bolt shank. then soak them down where they go into the head. Heat the head if needed and turn them out with a stud extractor, or vise grips.
As far as buying a manifold you have NAPA, Autozone, Pep Boys, Advanced, any number of places. Look right on the Doorman web site for manifolds.