Something blocking header bolt. Ideas?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Something blocking header bolt. Ideas?
Hey all,
I recently realized that I was missing a header bolt. I originally thought that a header bolt had broken off, however, after taking some closer pictures, what is in there does not look like a broken bolt.
Just wondering if anyone has seen anything that looks like this.
Thanks for the help.
I recently realized that I was missing a header bolt. I originally thought that a header bolt had broken off, however, after taking some closer pictures, what is in there does not look like a broken bolt.
Just wondering if anyone has seen anything that looks like this.
Thanks for the help.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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It looks like gasket material. You may have to pull the header or head to see what is really going on. If you put a pick in there does it feel solid and does the piece move?
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Dec 14, 2016 at 07:11 AM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,117
Likes: 9,247
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
The slots are semetric al to each other and continue along the edges, cant be from a punch. is weird though.
can you put a punch in there and smack it, see how hard that material is?
can you put a punch in there and smack it, see how hard that material is?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
gasket material!!! try punching somethink sharp thru it or loosen all the other bolts to look behind it. do you have an exhaust leak there because of the missing bolt?
Last edited by lvmyvt76; Dec 14, 2016 at 08:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
I had a ticking sound from that side of the engine and through some research on the internet, it suggested a exhaust manifold leak or a stuck lifter. I pulled the spark plug wire routing mounts and discovered that I was missing 2 bolts on the passenger side and 2 on the drivers side.
I replaced 3 of the missing ones but this is the last one. I had help while assembling the car and I'm not sure that there was ever a bolt put in there. It could have come from the factory that way for all I know.
The symmetry of those indentions really has me perplexed.
I put a pick in the spot and it felt solid. I can move the pick around and feel the indentations. I got a second pick and tried to get them each in an indentation to see if i could turn it. No luck.
I grabbed one of the little magnets on a stick and it attached to whatever is in there. It's definitely metal.
I'll try to give it a wack with a punch and see if it loosens up at all.
If not, I'll pull the side pipes and headers to get me in even closer.
I replaced 3 of the missing ones but this is the last one. I had help while assembling the car and I'm not sure that there was ever a bolt put in there. It could have come from the factory that way for all I know.
The symmetry of those indentions really has me perplexed.
I put a pick in the spot and it felt solid. I can move the pick around and feel the indentations. I got a second pick and tried to get them each in an indentation to see if i could turn it. No luck.
I grabbed one of the little magnets on a stick and it attached to whatever is in there. It's definitely metal.
I'll try to give it a wack with a punch and see if it loosens up at all.
If not, I'll pull the side pipes and headers to get me in even closer.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
you will probably have to loosen up the header on that side to see why the blockage is there. why so many bolts missing?? have you checked them for tightness since thy were installed, this is a must do especially on new headers being put on.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,022
From: New Braunfels Texas
On closer inspection.......these are not header gaskets at all......they are exhaust manifold individual gaskets.....and the one in the picture has slid down a bit....you can see the witness mark where someone has tried to screw a bolt in and gave up......
Loosen and inspect....or better yet get some Fel Pro 1404 header gaskets......about $17 at your local part peddler......
Jebby
Loosen and inspect....or better yet get some Fel Pro 1404 header gaskets......about $17 at your local part peddler......
Jebby
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
It's the perforated metal type gasket material showing and since there is no bolt hole, it has moved or shifted.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
I've had bolts come loose from heat cycling in the past, especially with headers. Replace with 1-pc gasket that will hang on the outer bolts and won't slide. Replace missing bolts and just put a wrench on them from time to time to check and snug.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Why couldn't you just drill thru the gasket in that hole. As long as you ONLY drill the gasket out...and DON'T get down in the threads, you should be able to vacuum the drilled material out of the threaded hole and install the bolt. If that gasket is 'barely' leaking now, it should seal up with the bolt in place.
[That threaded hole should not be a 'thru' hole.]
[That threaded hole should not be a 'thru' hole.]
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 15, 2016 at 01:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
I took all of the pics with a Samsung S6. All of my photos automatically backup to Google Photos. One of the cool features they have is the auto focus and cleanup it does when you zoom in. If I compare the original picture with the one on my Google account, the original is nowhere near this clear.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
On closer inspection.......these are not header gaskets at all......they are exhaust manifold individual gaskets.....and the one in the picture has slid down a bit....you can see the witness mark where someone has tried to screw a bolt in and gave up......
Loosen and inspect....or better yet get some Fel Pro 1404 header gaskets......about $17 at your local part peddler......
Jebby
Loosen and inspect....or better yet get some Fel Pro 1404 header gaskets......about $17 at your local part peddler......
Jebby
Thanks!I think that this little arc is the top of the hole for the gasket.
I'm going to loosen a couple of the surrounding bolts and see if I can use a pick to raise the gasket up and secure it.
This little experience had me start looking all around the car to see if there were any other issues with missing bolts.
I found that 4 of the 6 bolts that hold the radiator frame in have also disappeared.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 7
From: Wake Forest NC
I had the same ticking sound with the same Hooker header flanges. Went away when I installed Remflex gaskets with Moroso bolts.
http://catalog.remflex.com/
http://catalog.remflex.com/
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,117
Likes: 9,247
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Good Job!!!!!