Help removing header bolts

[joefloyd]

;helpI have an 80 with a bad header gasket, is there an easy way to remove the bolts with out snaping them off in the head? Also what are the best gaskets to buy? All tips will be a great help.

Thanks Joe. ;help;help

 

[6880 Mike]

Aftermarket headers or stock exhaust? Stock exhaust manifold bolts are not torqued too tightly, although years of heat can make them stubborn. You should be able to back them out with a good ratchet and six-point socket.

FWIW: have you checked the bolts? A loose exhaust manifold bolt will allow a leak and sound like a bad gasket.

 

[80RedL82]

Spray the bolts with penetrating oil, ie PB Blaster overnight before you try to remove them. If they are original bolts and due to rust and age the head rounds off then I used a set of craftsman bolt extractor sockets (looks like a socket but has knife edge griping surface to remove the stuborn bolts) I have had success removing even the most stuborn bolts.

 

[joefloyd]

Aftermarket headers or stock exhaust? Stock exhaust manifold bolts are not torqued too tightly, although years of heat can make them stubborn. You should be able to back them out with a good ratchet and six-point socket.

FWIW: have you checked the bolts? A loose exhaust manifold bolt will allow a leak and sound like a bad gasket.

Mike, thank you for the help, They are after market headers and i have not started on them yet. I read about them snapping off in the head and that is one place I don't want to go. I will give thm a tug today and find out if there will be a problem.

Thank you Joe.

 

[joefloyd]

Spray the bolts with penetrating oil, ie PB Blaster overnight before you try to remove them. If they are original bolts and due to rust and age the head rounds off then I used a set of craftsman bolt extractor sockets (looks like a socket but has knife edge griping surface to remove the stuborn bolts) I have had success removing even the most stuborn bolts.

Redl 82, Thanks for the help, I will use the PB Blaster and if I round the heads I will be off to Sears for the bolt extractors

Thank You Joe.

 

[JohnZ]

When you re-install, use anti-seize on the bolts so you don't have to fight them next time.

 

[minifridge1138]

Have you tried to remove them yet?

When i put headers on my 1982 i was expecting the bolts to be welded in place. I was surprised to find that most of them were hand tight.

Good Luck!

 

[Vette79]

Use header locking bolts so that they don't turn back out and destroy your header gasket.

 

[joefloyd]

Have you tried to remove them yet?

When i put headers on my 1982 i was expecting the bolts to be welded in place. I was surprised to find that most of them were hand tight.

Good Luck!

You hit it on the nose, they were hand tight, and 2 of them were missing. I replaced the missing ones and used a wrench on all the rest of them. Problem solved no more leak without replacing the gaskets.

Thanks for the help.