Stock manifold questions

[cwest]

I'm in the middle of doing a auto to manual swap on my 86' K20 4X4 and recently got the auto trans down and out.  I noticed with the trans missing the back of the manifolds are fairly accessible now from the rear.  I've had one of those all familiar ticks coming from the driver side manifold area since I've owned the truck (2ish years).  I tried the Seafoam thing (recommended by patrons of this site) just in case it was a lifter, but no change.  So I figure why not address the manifold itself while I have ample access.  With everyone's infinitely more experience do those old manifolds ever spring leaks in the cast iron or are they fairly bullet proof?  If I can get away with just buying a gasket for a few bucks and reusing the old manifold I'd be happy, but I don't want to fiddle with everything twice, so I'll buy a whole new manifold if that seems like the safer move.           

[Irish_Alley]

so you have a exhaust leak? there are twho gaskets one on the E manifold to head and the other is a doughnut gasket after the manifold. both can blow out. i would put aluminum gasket on the exhaust manifold/block just cause if you have a bolt back out they dont blow and you can just retorque them and be on your way not to mention you can reuse them

[bake74]

so you have a exhaust leak? there are twho gaskets one on the E manifold to head and the other is a doughnut gasket after the manifold. both can blow out. i would put aluminum gasket on the exhaust manifold/block just cause if you have a bolt back out they dont blow and you can just retorque them and be on your way not to mention you can reuse them

     X2:  just did this on my 74

[cwest]

Thanks for the tips on alum gaskets, sounds like a winner.  I got the driver side manifold out today with some good old tugging until it found its way to the light.  I'm sure that's what the Haynes manual says to do:).  In the process the silver spider looking thing connected to the manifold broke off at all four bolts (they weren't going to come out the easy way anyway).  It was pretty corroded at the bolts upon further inspection, so that might have been where the exhaust leak was in the first place, and the fact there was no trace of a manifold/head gasket too.  I imagine it's an emissions piece but what exactly is that thing that was bolted to the manifold and do I really need it?  The manifolds I've found online are almost twice as expensive with the extra bolt holes to connect it.

[cwest]

Okay after some research the "silver spider looking thing" that broke off of my manifold is an A.I.R. rail.  The parts store guy didn't have it (or know what it was exactly) so he turned me onto the big Chevy dealer in town because I guess they have a huge parts department and have kept everything over the years.  The dealer didn't end up having it but the guy was able to get a parts number for me.  Just in case anyone is ever looking for the same part for a completely stock rebuild the passenger side is part#10045322, and the driver side is #14088578.