exhaust bolt mistake

[dmiller]

avoid my mistake, i purchased stainless steel exhaust header "studs". they looked really nice, but problem is that the nuts for the studs are too large to clear the header pipes. after a long time of trying different ways to make clearance, i learned that the exhaust header "bolts" have undersized heads and fit with no problems.

this is just another example of why this project is costing 2x what i thought, and 3x how long i thought.

[GeorgiaSnake]

If I were doing it over I would go with allen head bolts on the headers. The regular bolts are a pain in the arse. Another winter time project [^]

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

If I were doing it over I would go with allen head bolts on the headers. The regular bolts are a pain in the arse. Another winter time project [^]

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[dmiller]

socket head bolts would be a good idea. think i'm going to change them before the body makes access difficult, and heat cycles make them difficult to remove. thanks for the idea.

[dmiller]

socket head bolts would be a good idea. think i'm going to change them before the body makes access difficult, and heat cycles make them difficult to remove. thanks for the idea.

[Brent]

Don't forget the anti-seze on the threads for aluminum or steel heads.
:(
Brent

[Brent]

Don't forget the anti-seze on the threads for aluminum or steel heads.
:(
Brent

[dmiller]

i learned value of never-seeze long time ago, i'm a believer, thanks

[dmiller]

i learned value of never-seeze long time ago, i'm a believer, thanks

[eliminator]

Personally I like the 12 point ARP stainless header bolts, 3/8" size and easy to get to even on a FE engine.

Eliminator

[eliminator]

Personally I like the 12 point ARP stainless header bolts, 3/8" size and easy to get to even on a FE engine.

Eliminator

[pgermond]

Speaking of exhaust. Picked up my headers and side pipes from the coater yesterday (MicroCoat out of Santa Rosa. The owner, Bruce is a heck fo a nice guy). Can you believe it - I can't find a shop that's open today that carries exhaust gasket material to use on the collectors!?!:( Gotta wait till next week to mount the pipes.

Nice looking work, huh[?]

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/pgermond/P9210001.JPG

427 Roadster
Southern Automotive FE
Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[pgermond]

Speaking of exhaust. Picked up my headers and side pipes from the coater yesterday (MicroCoat out of Santa Rosa. The owner, Bruce is a heck fo a nice guy). Can you believe it - I can't find a shop that's open today that carries exhaust gasket material to use on the collectors!?!:( Gotta wait till next week to mount the pipes.

Nice looking work, huh[?]

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/pgermond/P9210001.JPG

427 Roadster
Southern Automotive FE
Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[eliminator]

Great looking ceramic coating, looks like chrome. On your jack stands, some nylon webbing over the top of the jack stand and duct tape to secure it works great. Won't scratch your frame up.

Eliminator

[eliminator]

Great looking ceramic coating, looks like chrome. On your jack stands, some nylon webbing over the top of the jack stand and duct tape to secure it works great. Won't scratch your frame up.

Eliminator

[jhaynie]

I discovered the other day that nearly all of the header bolts on the right side of my engine were loose. I retorqed them and they are ok now. Didn't take the time to use any threadlock or anything like that. Do you need it with Cast iron heads?

[jhaynie]

I discovered the other day that nearly all of the header bolts on the right side of my engine were loose. I retorqed them and they are ok now. Didn't take the time to use any threadlock or anything like that. Do you need it with Cast iron heads?

[WBofTN]

I cant remember the name of the header bolt I have, but
they have a cam locking devise that slips on after you
torque them down - Works great - no way for them to
back out.
WB

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[WBofTN]

I cant remember the name of the header bolt I have, but
they have a cam locking devise that slips on after you
torque them down - Works great - no way for them to
back out.
WB

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[rdorman]

Forget the gasket materials for the collectors. Just use high temp atv.
Rick

[rdorman]

Forget the gasket materials for the collectors. Just use high temp atv.
Rick

[Tony Radford]

After having a couple of my header bolts (black square head) vibrate out, I purchased a set of socket head bolts from Pep Boys and replaced them. They are much easier to work with. I had to replace both of my header gaskets (went from paper to copper gaskets) and it was much easier removing and tightning the socket head bolts.

[Tony Radford]

After having a couple of my header bolts (black square head) vibrate out, I purchased a set of socket head bolts from Pep Boys and replaced them. They are much easier to work with. I had to replace both of my header gaskets (went from paper to copper gaskets) and it was much easier removing and tightning the socket head bolts.

[excelguru]

John - Don't use a thread locker (Loctite, for example) on those bolts!!! One day you'll wish you hadn't.

I purchased socket-head ARP bolts (one of the few things I did right - LOL) and love 'em. You WILL have to re-tighten the bolts after the first couple hundred miles. After my first re-tightening, I haven't had to do it since (I have over 5000 miles now).

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[excelguru]

John - Don't use a thread locker (Loctite, for example) on those bolts!!! One day you'll wish you hadn't.

I purchased socket-head ARP bolts (one of the few things I did right - LOL) and love 'em. You WILL have to re-tighten the bolts after the first couple hundred miles. After my first re-tightening, I haven't had to do it since (I have over 5000 miles now).

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[eliminator]

If you have the orignial cast iron heads you will need to tighten them every once in a while, they will back off some. The aluminum heads don't seem to have that problem once you tighten them a couple of times. The aluminum heads and headers seem to expand and contract at about the same rate. I used Fel-Pro header gaskets with the red atv and no leaks and they are staying tight, no thread lock just anti-seize.

Eliminator

[eliminator]

If you have the orignial cast iron heads you will need to tighten them every once in a while, they will back off some. The aluminum heads don't seem to have that problem once you tighten them a couple of times. The aluminum heads and headers seem to expand and contract at about the same rate. I used Fel-Pro header gaskets with the red atv and no leaks and they are staying tight, no thread lock just anti-seize.

Eliminator

[jhaynie]

Based on what I've had to do to this car so far, Keith may be onto something. Noone may have touched these bolts since the car was started.

John

[jhaynie]

Based on what I've had to do to this car so far, Keith may be onto something. Noone may have touched these bolts since the car was started.

John

[pbrown]

quote:Originally posted by WBofTN

I cant remember the name of the header bolt I have, but
they have a cam locking devise that slips on after you
torque them down - Works great - no way for them to
back out.
WB


I think those are made by Stage8. They look like a great solution to old age old header bolt problem.

--Patrick

[pbrown]

quote:Originally posted by WBofTN

I cant remember the name of the header bolt I have, but
they have a cam locking devise that slips on after you
torque them down - Works great - no way for them to
back out.
WB


I think those are made by Stage8. They look like a great solution to old age old header bolt problem.

--Patrick

[Silk]

Most aluminum heads are HeliCoiled (I know the newer Edelbrocks are) and consequently don't need anti-seize. As far as header bolts, I'd use either stainless or black oxide hex heads. Same ones used for big block Chevys. They have small (3/8?) heads and can be tightned easily with a box wrench - no clearance issues. I go over them every couple of months and almost never find anything loose. I think Stage 8 makes the locking bolts, and I've hear they work well.

Gary
Unique FIA 351W

[Silk]

Most aluminum heads are HeliCoiled (I know the newer Edelbrocks are) and consequently don't need anti-seize. As far as header bolts, I'd use either stainless or black oxide hex heads. Same ones used for big block Chevys. They have small (3/8?) heads and can be tightned easily with a box wrench - no clearance issues. I go over them every couple of months and almost never find anything loose. I think Stage 8 makes the locking bolts, and I've hear they work well.

Gary
Unique FIA 351W