OK, I've got everything hooked up now but i cant seem to get the bolt closest to the firewall on the passenger side to go into the head. It will go in a little way but not far enough to actually tighten it against the header. Will this cause me any problems? leaks? my dad said that it might vibrate against the head and then break stuff, is he right?

-chuck

 

If it's the last bolt it may cause it to leak. I know if my back header bolts get lose it leaks. It wont break anything. It will just cause it to leak and burn up the gasket.

You need to either cut an open end wrench in half so it has a short handle or sears sells shorter craftsman open ends that you can fit back there to tighten the bolt.

 

What tools have you tried to tighten it with? I.e. is it that you can't get something on it to turn the thing, or is the bolt stopping in the hole. Make sure its not cross threading or crooked.

 

Maybe part of the old bolt broke off inside?

 

yea, im afraid it could be cross threading. What is 'crooked'?

I'm sure the old bolt didnt break off into it. It seems like it will go in like a turn or two and then i cant get enough leverage on it to make it go in any further at all.

-chuck

 

crooked, as in bent or skewed or out of alignment. sometimes the header is just slightly off and the bolt holes do'nt line up perfectly. The bolt will not go in straight, but will crossthread if you force it. Or, the bolt does go in straight, but as the header is tightened down, the flange may move relative to the bolt, causing it to bind against the side of the bolt.

 

If it's not cross-threaded, then a ratchet and a crows foot can easily get it from underneath to torque it. The bolt hole may just be dirty and can probably be chased to clean it out. Hopefully it's not crossthreaded.

You can loosen the other bolts and see if the header will "wiggle" so as to get more play and maybe it will go in just fine after that.