exhaust leaks fixed

[skeptiq]

Installed headers and could not keep the stupid header bolts from backing out. Hit up auto parts store for hex head bolts and after a out an hour had those things in tight. Just need a couple heat cycles and check and should be good to go. What a pain in the ass though. My busted and bloody knuckles weren't too pleased but I am since there is no more annoying tick.

Ben

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Ok...here's what you do next time to save yourself all the busted knuckles. There's a couple options, both work very very well.

1) cough up the cash for ARP header bolts. They have a smaller 12 point head (i think like 5/16) which makes it super easy to get a box end wrench on them to tighten them down real tight.

2) go to Lowes/Home Depot, and buy some grade 8 allen head bolts of the same size and use the proper size allen key to tighten them. What i did was take a junk key and cut about an inch of the short end off so it was just barely longer than the bend of the key (if you know what i mean?) and i use that plus the piece i cut off in a socket on some of the others. Some of them you can get on with a regular key but others you'll need the cut down key, some you can use a hex socket on etc.

After working with the ARP's on a buddy's car, i have to say that's my favorite option and i think they're around $20 or so which to me is well worth it for saving myself the aggravation. I have the allen keys on my car because i've already got'em, already cut down the key etc and they work great.

[skeptiq]

For sure. The busted knuckles came from getting the old bolts off. I did replace them with the Allen head ones. Guess I didn't use the right term in the original post. I wouldn't use anything but those now. I need to cut ny Allen to tighten one more properly but its not kealeaking right now. What did you use to cut it?

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I used a Dremel with a cutoff wheel (or few lol). You only need enough left after the bend to fit inside the head of the nut. Oh, and i missed the part about you getting hex head bolts...my bad.

[foxbodyfan]

Teflon tape works also