In a short 20 mile drive last week I noticed a new noise in my '41 coupe's 216 engine. After squirting a little oil, I found that the exhaust manifold is leaking in one small area. Tightening the bolts did not resolve the problem, so I will invest in a new gasket set. I presume I should check for warpage, but how critical is that? If I find only minor warpage, is there a magical sealant that would resolve the problem? Can the intake and exhaust manifolds be removed as one unit?
Thanks,
Sid

They can be removed as a unit. Take them to the machine shop and have them planed. Make sure all the old gasket material is removed from the head.

Some times two sets of gaskets are used. I don't recommend it. Do the machine shop thing instead.
Good luck,
Charlie

As Charlie suggested have the manifolds resurfaced but replace the gasket between and set them as flat as possible first. After the machining check that the rings wont bottom out before the gasket is fully clamped.
Tony

Thanks guys, I removed the manifolds and took them to a machine shop yesterday. I was amazed; they resurfaced them while I waited, and it cost $20.00. If I had not resurfaced them, I don't think they would have seated properly - there was a gap of about an eighth of an inch in some places when the straight edge was placed on them. Tony has a good point about the rings. I'll check them next.
Sid