Exhaust Leak

[kresener]

I just bought a '01 Chevy 2500HD with the 8.1 liter and Allison tranny combo, and 70k miles, awesome truck!

 

Problem is that on start up it has a pretty bad exhaust leak, can't hear it at idle, or even when revving the engine in neutral, has to be under a load but it sounds awful until it gets warmed up.

 

I've searched some forums and seen that it's pretty common for the exhaust manifolds to develop leaks and that seems to be what I have, although I can't tell what side since I don't hear it unless I'm driving.

 

Is this usually just a exhaust manifold gasket gone bad, or a cracked manifold? Kinda hoping for a cracked manifild then I have an excuse to get a set of headers!

 

Thoughts from anyone who has had this issue appreciated.

[iwantoneofthose]

not sure if you've already found the problem, but my recently purchased '01 3500 with the same engine/trans combo had an exhaust leak at the passenger side exhaust manifold right by the firewall. Bolts/studs came out amazingly easy and with new felpro gaskets it solved the leak. Pretty easy to find out where it's leaking from if you just place your hand over the area the sound is coming from. Make sure you do it right after you start the truck when the engine is cold.