I was hearing a clunking/rubbing noise coming from the passenger side front of engine compartment. I was trying to find the noise but I could not figure out where it was coming from so I shut the car off. I was pulling and pushing things and I found that when I pushed down hard on the top or the alternator, like giving chest compressions on someone, I heard the rubbing. So I then grabbed the exhaust manifold and pushed and pulled on it and heard the same noise. My motor mounts are fine. Is the lower bracket of the alternator somehow tied into the front of the exhaust manifold? I can't figure out why when I push down on the alternator, I hear the noise coming from the manifold. Please give me your opinions.

 

The lower mount uses the front most bolt of the exhaust manifold.

Do you have any exhaust leaks? Seems that more than one bolt would need to be lose or broken to be able to move the manifold.

 

I am thinking your exhaust is rubbing somewhere.

 

There very well might be. The only sound I hear from the maifold to the cat is a kind of puffing sound. I thought exhaust leaks were a ticking sound.

 

I was thinking of getting some SLP headers. This might be my push to get it done. Is it a hard job to do? Should i do it myself?

 

I just installed slp headers and it wasnt that bad because i had the tranny out to do the clutch at the same time. I would not want to do headers with the tranny in. No trans gives you a little bit of room to move in there.

If you do the install plan on a full weekend of work. I noticed a nice SOTP difference with them.

 

Will an exhaust leak cause the car to run rich?

 

I did Longtubes with the trans in and that wasnt bad at all. Shorties should be really easy, or if you want I can sell you my exhaust manifolds and you can try those.