SPI Exhaust manifold leak

[berndt]

Just bought a used 2002 Focus with 118K on it. SO far its been a very tights right for 118K. I worry some about the dropping valve seat I've been reading about.

It does sounds a little like an old pickup truck on acceleration. Idles fine. runs at constant speed fine.

Took to a local muffler shop, and indeed he says exhaust manifold leak. And a 'pretty bad one'.

What damage does a cracker exhaust manifold lead to, if any? I see that a manifold kit at rockauto.com is around $70, a far cry from the over $500 he wanted to fix it, so was wondering, its not tough to change one out is it? Aside from rusted bolts maybe...

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