I used to have a 77 Monte Carlo, 350 out of a 69 Chevelle, with headers on it.

I, being 17-18 years old, and not mechanically inclined, never messed with them, even though I knew they were beginning to loosen up a bit.

Well, they got really loose, bolts came completely out, gaskets burned up, car for into a little scuffle (with a third gen IROC, ironically), and I just let them go...I was actually running open headers for a good while, and yes I got a ticket for excessive noise.

Finally, the last bolt gave way....and the headers actually fell off the car, went underneath, and we ran them over....they hung up under the back bumper, dug into the gravel road we were on, and actually lifted the rear of the car off the ground about 1.5 feet.

No kidding.

So, Im wondering, since Im about to do an engine swap, I might do the exhaust while Ive got the engine out, but I dont want to have to tighten up header bolts every 2 weeks...so, are they any more reliable nowadays? Is there a trick to never having to go in and tighten the header bolts?

I dont wanna have to worry about keeping the bolts tightened up....but I dont want them to fall off the car and get run over either...If I have to maintain them, I wont bother.

 

LMAO, you actually drove it until they fell out of the car.

Stage 8 locking header bolts is one way to fix that problem. There is another type of locking header bolt that I have heard of but can't remember the name. Somebody will chime in with them.

 

Yep, you shoulda seen the blue flames coming out of the exhaust ports...it was nightime and it looked badass....I think they lit up a plug wire, if I remember correctly......

And oh boy, was it loud.

Car got parked shortly after, and my folks sold it for like $200 after I moved away....shame too, that was a nice strong engine.

Nice to hear that theres some products out there to solve my laziness

 

That's the funniest thing I've read on this board in a while.

Besides Stage 8, there's Breslin with their split-lock design. I would prefer to run the Stage 8's. They're cheaper and I like the retainer/snap clip setup.

 

Its the truth, honest to ***!

I was just looking at those locking bolts here:

http://www.jackit.com/headers/stage8_installation.htm

So, theyre reliable eh? They actually work?

 

Get self-tightening header bolts.

 

If he isnt kidding I think stage 8's might be too complicated LOL

 

so have you ever used a welder?

 

Too complicated? Well, knowing from expeirence, the Stage8's work great. I've had them since I installed my headers(1998) and have NEVER had to check them once they were on. I swear by them and will use and recommend them on any vehicle running headers. Heck I'm even using the original gaskets that SLP sent me with my headers.

 

I run the stage 8's but when I put my next set of headers on I will try the breslins. They are more forgiving for different sizes of header primaries. The stage 8's are great by design but chances are you will have to grind on the locking tabs to make them fit against the primaries. The breslins have an internal lock that avoids all clearance issues. No two headers are the same but the breslins should work with every set as opposed to the stage 8's.

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

Get bolts drilled for safety wire... basically, its just bolts with a small hole drilled through the side of the bolt head, right through it. You put in all the bolts and tighten them up, then feed wire through the holes, sorta like connect the dots - from one bolt to the next. Get the wire nice and tight and its works great!

You'll want to use mechanics tie wire for this though, not just some electrical wire or something.

 

yea the wire is what the use on all the extremelt heavy stuff at my job on the oil rig got 4 bolts that hold a cover on a hydrolic arm and there is the wire bolt 2 bolt