Paul L

I just had the entire exhaust system on my 1974 re-done. We are talking everything including exhaust manifold studs, bronze nuts, brackets, hangers, heat riser valve etc. right back to mufflers (Corvette Central Hideaway). I must say it is a treat to see professionals who know what shade of red is right and when to extract the studs without damaging manifolds. The old rust-prone carbon steel pipes and ugly round mufflers are gone. It is a "little" loud but the Wife likes it and I don't think police will bother an old fart cruising on a Sunday afternoon. And around here I doubt that decibel meters or standards exist.

So the question is: How do I lube that heat riser valve? They do tend to seize with time. Years ago GM had a spray for that. I have what I believe is the modern equivalent: penetrating oil. Keep in mind that in 1974 there was no vacuum EFE-actuated system. This is just a thermal spring mechanical affair. I can hit that spring area with oil and just let the excess burn off. Does that sound like a plan?

mds3013

Hey, Paul. Use some anti-seize. It will last for some time even with the heat. Any light lube will burn off. mike...

Paul L

I can't see how I would get anti-seize on the valve butterfly shafts.....? Stupidly I should have asked Midas to do something like that on installation. Brain fart I guess. Or perhaps they did lube it. It works freely now. I was pretty impressed by their work. And yes, I do supervise which doubles the labor rate.

mds3013

Just work it in then remove the excess. It stays on spark plug threads so it should do the same on the valve. Just my thought. Hope it is accurate. mike...

Paul L

I will probably just hit it tonight with penetrating oil, let soak overnight, and then let the excess burn off in the morning. When these valves were new in 1974 (as mine is now) they went many miles before presenting problems. I may be on one of my "fix it until it's broke" binges. I do have my moments.

I recently took a DSLR course at a local college. I have a Canon EOS Rebel and it gave me some insights on these complex cameras. I hope to travel tomorrow (with my Brother and his 1979) to local vintage villages and get some nice pics. About a 100-mile trip.

gq82

I wired mine open....all it did was burn the paint on the intake manifold. Wired open I have experienced no drivability issues but then again I don't live in Canada.

I have a product call Aero Kroil. It's called the oil that creeps....and creep it does into any crack or crevice. It's a penetrating oil used to loosen & lubricate frozen metal parts. I've used it with great success.

mds3013

Have a safe and enjoyable trip. mike...

Paul L

Thanks Mike. My younger Brother and I like sharing time together. The 1979 L-82 I bought in 1986. It was a stolen car that had many issues: body, mechanical, electrical. But it was all I could afford at that time and my first Corvette. By 2000 it was fully restored by me. I sold it to him in 2003 when I bought a 1967 coupe. To this day it looks lovely. He takes such good care of it. I drove it yesterday; what a treat an L-82 is compared to an L-48!

Paul L

Post-retirement from the corporate world I worked at a GM dealership for almost two years until I was hurt on the job. We used a similar product called Lloyds MooVit. It works very well and I have just done the job on the heat riser. It will smoke tomorrow morning for a bit and then it is time to drive! D***, summer is half gone.

Paul L

Well, I guess that I answered my own question. I used a penetrating oil. Thanks for listening! And comments!

hdpete98

I hit mine with some PB Blaster from time to time, never had a problem.