Zetec exhaust manifold cracks

[Sable23]

so i just saw the thread about the duratec manifolds cracking and it reminded me of the cracked zetec manifolds I have seen.

if you notice the hose clamp on my old exhaust manifold there was a large crack there. and i got another manifold (free) from my uncle and it is starting to crack in the same place. he was putting a zetec (old zetec had a piston that disintegrated) in a mystique that also had a crack developing in the same place. wondering if anyone else has ever noticed this?

 

[Sable23]

so since no one else has seemed to notice this on their cars, i am going to ask if the post 97 or cougar manifolds are the same or if they are an updated version, if so, will they fit on a pre 98? also remembered that all the ones i have seen are on pre 98 manifolds

 

[striker2]

so since no one else has seemed to notice this on their cars, i am going to ask if the post 97 or cougar manifolds are the same or if they are an updated version, if so, will they fit on a pre 98? also remembered that all the ones i have seen are on pre 98 manifolds

i have only heard of this happening on a few other Zetecs, all of which were pre98s IIRC. the 98+ manifold is different in several ways but the most obvious is the lack of a port for the EGR tube. while it will bolt to the engine, i dont believe it would line up with the stock pre98 cat/downpipe.

 

[TribalTour]

My 96 zetec is definitely developing a crack in the same spot, I'm thinking headers for the solution.