This may be a stupid question but...can I wrap muffler tape around a crack on my exhaust manifold? I just noticed a little crack. The back of the muffler tape package says that it works with heat, but I'm not sure if it would be too hot. Thanks.

I would not risk it. The exhaust manifold will continue to crack under the heat anyway. You will need to repair/replace it. Maybe a putty... anyone?

Nope-- replacement, even welded up ones will break again soon .With the weld, it has different expansion rate and will just crack again rite beside the weld.

IMO muffler tape is $hit. I used it on a busted exhaust pipe on an old toyota celica about 3 years ago. The pipe was broken about 3 feet down from the manifold and even at that location the pipe got too hot for the tape to adhear and strung fiberglass all over the undercarriage of the car. I was pulling fiberglass strings from everything including the rear axle. Muffler tape just isn't designed to handle heat that close to the engine, which is why it's fine for a muffler (at the time it reaches the muffler the gasses have cooled enough). Best suggestion is to replace the manifold with a new or if you feel lucky a used one from a wrecking yard. just my $.02

How much trouble is it to replace the trunk-side exhaust manifold? I'm not even going to look at the fire wall side.

thats the ez side. just plan on a bolt or two breaking. Check archives for recommendations. DONT EVER USE THE OEM BOLTS