Manifold Flange Donut

[MIPS]

I've not been able to locate a catalog matched donut for an '82 or later Eagle. Everything lists it as not available with no lead time. RockAuto doesn't even list it.
There is however a part listed for the '81 Eagle (Mahle F7171, replaces 3175842, 3192234, 3216643, 3223546, 386114C1, 587971, 8129869, EN1589, EPZ3205, EPZ4203, Z3205) but it too is out of stock. The only thing I can find is the Fel-Pro 60299 (Replaces 31351, 31404, 3175842, 3192234, 3216643, 3223546, 386114C1, 386114C2, 521001, 521855, 521856, 587971, 7413172, 8129869, 820044, 83300053, 8769, EX14, G175, G176, G2884934) but it lists as only compatible with the '80 Eagle.

I know that before 1982 AMC didn't have the aluminum intake manifold but that I can find the exhaust manifold did not change from 1980-1988. It's a $7 part so I took the risk anyways.





I can't tell what I'm looking at here. The steel insert fits but I have not yet taken the other manifold out of the car yet so I don't know if this is completely wrong or it smooshes down to seal when everything is reassembled and there are not photographs of what the proper donut looks like. Does this look correct?

[amcfool1]

hi, the 82+ cars don't use a donut. It's a flange to cone fit on the header pipe. The header pipe is no longer available, so the only option is to have a pro shop make one. Did it on a couple of mine. good luck,  gz

[MIPS]

Interesting, well at least it wasn't too much money spent. Alright I'll check the fit once I start pulling things apart and see what is going on. Should I at all prep/clean the mating surfaces when I put it back together? I did notice it isn't a perfectly smooth surface on my spare manifold which is used. The other side should still be in great ship as the full exhaust was replaced two years ago.

[AMC of Houston]

You probably won't have any sealing issues; but if you want to play it safe, get some "exhaust paste" for the joint.

[MIPS]

This is all stemming from that disaster of a repair job a few months ago. Exhaust sounded fine before. Not anymore. If I have to pull that whole side of the engine bay apart again to find an exhaust leak I just might as well shoot the parts cannon at it.