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Welding cast is not a big deal, you just have to get it hot first to do the job right. Any stick welder will work once you have the crack cleaned and heated with oxy or even an LPG torch. That's assuming you can weld using good old stick that isFirstly thanks to all who've responded but I guess I'm going to answer my own question after experiencing it first hand.
I ventured down to the infamous U-Pull-it yard this morning and ended up pulling 5 LH Exhaust manifolds off only to find every single one is .............................. you guessed it...........cracked between 3 and 5. Some more severely than others but it's a real PITA having to do it 6 times all up to find one that hasn't.
I'm wondering how long it's going to be before the welding of these manifolds becomes a standard practice as you can't use the later VY manifolds on a VS due to the EGR pipe being fitted into the later units. I guess they can always be plugged but welding should eliminate the issue pretty much for life. Welding of cast iron isn't a back yard operation and as such most people will have to pay for that to be done correctly.
Anyway I guess this topic has now been well documented for all future questions.
It's right side.brand new to suit vs vt 95-01
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HOLDEN-...141554?hash=item4b5c5ceef2:g:OsQAAOSwckZcUNtf
from what i found it was vt on were supposedly the same just going on ebay sellers thoughVy are different to vt
Also I've always found that the way that the manifolds are simply a straight up fit against the side of the head with no gasket is odd.