Why stud the exhaust manifold?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 877
Likes: 6
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Why stud the exhaust manifold?
I'm getting ready to do my top end pretty soon, and I'm just gathering parts. I heard somewhere that you should stud your exhaust manifold if you're gonna take them off. What's the reasoning, does it just make it easier to get them back on? I can imagine keeping the gaskets in place when the motor is still in the car would be tricky.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I found that you can't get headers (at least the two different sets I have had on my car) into place with all the studs in the head. I usually have to use one or two studs to hold the gasket, put header in place, then install the studs with the header in place. They do have an allen head in the stud so you can use a small socket and finger ratchet to install, but I don't believe you can install all the studs, then gasket then get the head in place as there is not enough room.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 54
From: Chandler, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Heads are Aluminum and the studs/bolts are steel, two different metals with the heads being softer, they can pull out when tightening and screw up your threads causing you to throw a fit, be angry and then get it fixed again.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 877
Likes: 6
From: Cherry Hill NJ
So for anyone who has been there, is it better to install studs, or leave the bolts? If you can't get the manifold in place with all the studs in, then I don't even see the point.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Whatever you decide, don't use a wrench until the bolts/studs are hand threaded several turns. A lot of guys have cross threaded, which is easy to do unless you have five hands to hold the gasket, bolt, header and then align it all.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 877
Likes: 6
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Thanks for the input guys. vettenuts I like your idea of just studding the ones that won't be in the way to help ease the install, then taking them out and putting bolts back in. I wish I could remember where I read that you should stud them.