Brass Nuts....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 2,222
From: Bellevue, WA
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Brass Nuts....
…. for the exhaust.... 
The auto parts store gave me brass nuts when I asked for nuts that bolt the exhaust to the exhaust manifold. Never did think of asking about a lock washer? I would think there should be one, is it brass as well, or some other material?
Thank you for the help!!!
The auto parts store gave me brass nuts when I asked for nuts that bolt the exhaust to the exhaust manifold. Never did think of asking about a lock washer? I would think there should be one, is it brass as well, or some other material?
Thank you for the help!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Brass nuts work perfectly without lock washers. Only thing, after a couple of heat/cool cycles, go back over and tighten them again.
Another tip, no batter what nut you use. Snug the nuts tight and the take a driver bat and smack the pipe collar at the manifold and drive it against the gasket. Retighten and you're good to go from now on.
Another tip, no batter what nut you use. Snug the nuts tight and the take a driver bat and smack the pipe collar at the manifold and drive it against the gasket. Retighten and you're good to go from now on.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,800
Likes: 2,396
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Interesting. I may be out of my depth here, but many brass alloys can anneal, and therefore soften, at under 500F, and at 600F will anneal in an hour. While I doubt that your exhaust manifold studs would get anywhere close to 500F, over time they might soften. This may be why Mike's experience says to retighten them. But I would make sure that they are completely cooled down before doing so. It's true they won't freeze to carbon steel studs.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 161
Likes: 35
From: Headed to the next race track
This must be a new old thing, last week working on a 1960 235, was cringing to pull the exhaust manifold and deal with broken studs. The two nuts on the down pipe studs turned out to brass. To my pleasure turned loose rather nicely. Found some double thick nuts to replace them. Guess they are suppose to bugger up before the studs. Would gladly replacement them over a broken stud/manifold.
Replacing a manifold/turbo on a 1.4L today, the metric nuts over studs were brass but had enough ferrous metal to be magnetic. Must have been torque to yield or crimped as the old ones freely went back on so I bought a set of new one's that had more of a lock nut resistance.
Replacing a manifold/turbo on a 1.4L today, the metric nuts over studs were brass but had enough ferrous metal to be magnetic. Must have been torque to yield or crimped as the old ones freely went back on so I bought a set of new one's that had more of a lock nut resistance.
Last edited by Dennisscars; May 3, 2019 at 09:40 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,277
Likes: 2,139
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Use brass nuts with lock washers on OEM carbon steel studs. OR install stainless steel studs and use the OEM locking nuts. Either one will work fine and will be able to be unfastened without stud breakage.
My own 1967 car has the brass nuts with lock washers........since 1994..........no leaks yet.
Larry
My own 1967 car has the brass nuts with lock washers........since 1994..........no leaks yet.
Larry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,882
Likes: 2,178
From: Chicopee MA.
I never try to loosen exhaust nuts with out first heating them red hot and let them cool a bit.
I also use never seize when installing them.
I have removed the studs by heating the manifold red hot. Once when I got the stud out I noticed that the diameter had been reduced to only 1/8" in diameter because of rusting. (I must have gone to church that morning)
I also use never seize when installing them.
I have removed the studs by heating the manifold red hot. Once when I got the stud out I noticed that the diameter had been reduced to only 1/8" in diameter because of rusting. (I must have gone to church that morning)
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