I need a set of headers,,,,I was wondering what the chances of my bolts or studs breaking off. I only have hand tools and no heat. Do you think I could get my bolts out or should I just pay someone to do it. How many of you put your own headers in. Remember my bolts dont look new at all,,,but Ive been told that my engine was rebuilt at one time so hopfully there not stuck in there too bad. Is the any tips on getting those bolts out. Plus what is in my car bolts or is it studs and nuts???
Thanks guy

oh ya are lg4 heads alum or are they cast,,,wouldnt it be easyer to get the bolts out of alum or is it the otherway around???

JC

get some really heavy duty wd40 type stuff and let them soak for a day and the bang on the heads with a hammer and bit then try to break them loose. worse comes to worse, u have to tap them out. not that big of a deal but a real pita in that area, manifolds.

Liberally spray them with some sort of pentrating oil. Let it soak at least overnight - respraying every couple of hours. When you go to removed them, rather than try to slowly apply force with a breaker bar, quickly hit them to break them loose. I've never seen a head break off, they always shear off. Some are bolts, some are studs and nuts. And the LG4 heads are cast iron.

get this stuff called PB penitration oil. its probably the best stuff ive used and our shop uses this stuff alot.

PB or WD-40
A good breaker bar with a quality socket ( don't use the ones with the 12 points of contact)
AFter spraying the bolts run the car a bit allowing the heat to draw the oil towards the engine. Respray after the car has cooled (fire hazard).
TRy to maintain 90 degree angle socket to bolt.
Also you can heat the bolts with a torch and the use candle wax to loosen the bolts.
Good Luck

Heed the advice above & invest in a good quality 6 point socket to fit the bolt heads.

My sockets are Mastercraft Professional Series.......so I should be ok. If they d spit i get a new one anyhow from the lifetime warr.

What should I do about the oxygen sensor hole on my headers,,,,I have a non-cc carb so i dont think Ill need an O2 sensor. Does frowtech send me a plug with the headers.

I just did my headers and was surprised at how easly the manifold bolts came out.

I am in the process of doing this myself as we speak. most of the bolts ive hit so far came right out. pb blaster worked wonders on the few bolts on the exhaust that didnt want to move.

I am in the process of doing this myself as we speak. most of the bolts ive hit so far came right out. pb blaster worked wonders on the few bolts on the exhaust that didnt want to move. o yea some are a pita to access. good luck and remember cars were invented for us to learn new curse words and frases.

You don't want to heat the bolts, but you want to apply heat to the area around the bolt. When you apply heat to metal it'll do two things... 1) It'll expand (this is the last thing you want the bolt to do) and 2) it'll make the metal softer (the other thing you don't want it to do).

If you use heat, you want to apply directly to the head around the area where the bolt is, not to the bolt directly. This will slightly expand the bolt hole, thus making it easier for the bolt to twist and be removed.

But, more than likely, if you soak the heck out of it as the other members have stated, you shouldn't have a problem.

Good luck.

Later,
-Mike

Use the FORD method of removal, same tool works on all their cars

just finished removing my manifolds on an 87 IROC, no problems at all. used 3/4 of a can of PB Blaster though. most of the bolts poped free with no problem. i did have to use a pipe on a few of them though.

Man you guys got lucky, I had my "sponsor" install my headders and they snapped 6 bolts flush with the head-better them than me So they spent the better part of the day drilling out the broken bolts.