i have a severe exhaust leak on the right manifold.. i have what i can see it at least two bolt heads missing.. and i hear this is common but will this cause a severe loss of power in any case? or just the very annoying ticking weed eater sound out the exhaust.. and to help im only running a glass pack.. no muffler.. or could my back pressure be too low as well causing the loss i feel.. i would say before the leaks it had 100 percent power and now it seems like about 75-80 percent is left.. pretty drastic. and who has found the easiest way and what special tools will i need to drill out the bolts? or cause i really dont feel like it if anyone near columbus ga with this experience wants a few extra bucks let me know... THANKS

Running no manifolds at all will cause problems...remember most race cars run open headers with maybe a basic style bullet style race muffler...Although they are tuned to run like that it shouldnt cause a HUGE drop in power like you are talking about. The loud ticking noise from the exhaust is what has me worried...that is not good. Is this a stock motor or are your running different push rods or rockers or anything? Ticking from the exhaust is not good


....Easy outs are the best way to try and get them out...sometimes a can of PB blaster and some vice grips will do the trick in less the bolts are flush with the block, then its definitely time for the easy outs

When I was doinf my exhaust it came apart a fwe times on the road. When this happened the car just dragggged, there was no power to be found in the low or high end. Having a leak at the manifold would cause similar problems I assume. These engines need some backpressure to run how they were built too.

The problem isn't that there is not enough backpressure, it's a loss of exhaust 'scavenging'. But yes, exhaust leaks, especially on the manifold will cause considerable power loss.

nicely put...this is exactly why headers are better then stock manifolds...they design the tubes to optimize scavenging.

If you have a stock exhaust a leak down wind will actually help a lil bit tho...Alot of street/strip cars run exhaust cutouts...this way you have the nice mellow tone of an exhaust but when you want optimal flow you open the cutout...Like stated by me and others a leaky manifold will cause problems

So this probably explains why my car is so darn slow, theres a huge exhaust leak on the passenger side manifold enough to make yourself gag while your driving it. I'm really going to have to get on that this month.

thanks for the answers. i appreciate it

Yes, thanks for the answers.