Engine running good now! Is this an exhaust leak?

[beejaytx225]

Hi everyone! Got my remanufactured carb installed and fairly close to adjusted (minus the manual choke settings) It made me smile from ear to ear to take her around the block and feel the power this motor still has Here is a video of it at idle. Is this sound an exhaust leak at the manifold or something else?
https://youtu.be/ummH-a0d90I

[basketcase0302]

Sounds like it could be an exhaust leak. One quick way to diagnose is when the engine is cold. Start the engine and quickly run your hand around the gasket, (exhaust manifold where it meets the engine / "donut" gasket where the exhaust manifold meets the exhaust piping) and you should feel the pressure where/if it's leaking.

Be prepared for some cussing if it either the manifold gasket or the donut as most the time you'll wind up with stripped or broken studs to deal with. Give yourself at least the entire weekend for either of these repairs.

And congrats on getting it running better as it does purr pretty good!

[beejaytx225]

Thanks for the input basketcase! My dad says he thinks it's a donut as well. I don't feel any air movement from it but it's probably what it is. At first I wondered if it was a spark gap arc or a lifter. But honestly it's not misfiring or running abnormally rough so I ruled those out. What I find strange is that this engine survived 52 years of use but yet I baby it and don't want to harm it. Probably sounds silly. If it made it this long it's probably okay