2007 2500HD Exhaust manifold/Header corrosion

[robrings]

I am in the process of buying a 2007 2500HD classic and it has exhaust leak at both manifolds and while I can and do many of my own repairs I had a mechanic look at the truck. He is worried the heads have severe corrosion at the rear exhaust ports on the heads and is very concerned new gaskets will not seal. Has anyone else come across this problem? Any solutions aside from replacing the heads, truck has about 116k on it. I am getting the truck for a good price (friends dad passed away) with an almost new western plow.

[Raptordude]

Corrosion between the headers and head? Never heard of that before. The exhaust manifold bolts are prone to the heads breaking off and causing exhaust leaks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[davester]

what "corrosion"? the heads are aluminum. I had a bunch of broken exhaust bolts on my '04 Sierra, and the truck has spent it's life in the rust belt, and the heads looked totally fine. got out some of the broken bolts, got some 'clamp' kits for holding down the ends of the exhaust manifolds (couldn't get those bolts out), and it's been working great for me since then (about 2 years now).

[robrings]

what "corrosion"? the heads are aluminum. I had a bunch of broken exhaust bolts on my '04 Sierra, and the truck has spent it's life in the rust belt, and the heads looked totally fine. got out some of the broken bolts, got some 'clamp' kits for holding down the ends of the exhaust manifolds (couldn't get those bolts out), and it's been working great for me since then (about 2 years now).

 

The manifolds looks NASTY, this truck was a plow truck since new. The mechanic said the last one he worked on with the same exhaust leak the aluminum heads were corroded so bad he couldn't get the new manifolds to seal he advises I don't buy the truck because of this and the possibility of corroded electrical parts. I'm getting the truck and 1yr old western plow for 6k, It also needs new knock sensors, brakes all around, brake lines and fuel lines are looking poor.

[davester]

and if it's been a plow truck, it probably needs various steering/suspension bits replaced.

 

sounds like you might want to consider a different truck.

[Formulabruce]

The head can get some white aluminum corrosion, but it can be fixed with Marine tex, or other items. AS mentioned, I would worry more about the last bolt on the DS. If it breaks off and you cannot weld something to it, it will leak with a new manifold, if bolt isnt replaced. that said its a close hole and there is water around it. Drilling it out there, is nearly impossible. Mine leaks and when it warms up leak is gone ( bolt is broke off)

[robrings]

and if it's been a plow truck, it probably needs various steering/suspension bits replaced.

 

sounds like you might want to consider a different truck.

 

The Plow is worth $3500, I'm paying $6,000 for both. You wouldn't pay $2,500 for a 07 extended cab 2500HD with 116,000 miles if you had to.

 

Replace all brakes,

Brake Lines,

Fuel lines,

Exhaust Manifolds (exhaust itself isn't rusted)

Knock sensors.

 

It won't be used for any commercial stuff, mainly plowing my own driveway and hauling stuff. Worst case scenario and the new manifolds leak what will it hurt?

[robrings]

I also want to thank you guys for taking the time to chime in on my question.

[robrings]

Just for reference this is the truck and a pic of the drivers side exhaust manifold.

 

 

[Raptordude]

Wow I live in snow territory in PA and I've never seen anything look like that.

 

Just a heads up, if it was used as a plow truck the transmission is probably trash along with the brake lines

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[robrings]

Wow I live in snow territory in PA and I've never seen anything look like that.

 

Just a heads up, if it was used as a plow truck the transmission is probably trash along with the brake lines

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Transmission seems to shift well, 4x4 worked as it is supposed to.

[davester]

leaking manifolds can/will wind up sucking air into the exhaust, which the O2 sensors read as indicating the engine is running too lean, causing the PCM to dump fuel into the engine, and your truck will suck down gas and also run like crap. It did this to me until I fixed the exhaust bolts on my truck.

 

If you do buy the truck, and to keep it for sometime, and want to do most of the fixing yourself, I highly recommend that you buy something like Autogenuity with GM Enhancement. It can talk go all the computers in your truck to help figure out what is going wrong (unlike most code readers that only read engine computer codes), like ABS, transmission, airbag, radio, BCM computers and more. And it can do things like help you bleed the ABS module (you need to do this when you replace your brake lines, and you need to use a computer to command it do to a specific procedure, or pay someone with one to do it).

[robrings]

leaking manifolds can/will wind up sucking air into the exhaust, which the O2 sensors read as indicating the engine is running too lean, causing the PCM to dump fuel into the engine, and your truck will suck down gas and also run like crap. It did this to me until I fixed the exhaust bolts on my truck.

 

If you do buy the truck, and to keep it for sometime, and want to do most of the fixing yourself, I highly recommend that you buy something like Autogenuity with GM Enhancement. It can talk go all the computers in your truck to help figure out what is going wrong (unlike most code readers that only read engine computer codes), like ABS, transmission, airbag, radio, BCM computers and more. And it can do things like help you bleed the ABS module (you need to do this when you replace your brake lines, and you need to use a computer to command it do to a specific procedure, or pay someone with one to do it).

 

 

Thanks for the info.

[davester]

Oh yeah, also a full-service manual (not cheap) or subscription to alldata.com/helminc.com(cheaper, but you need a computer/iPad around your vehicle when you are working on it) for your vehicle also helps with figuring out and fixing problems.