Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ATS exhaust manifold

[ALehman]

Has anyone had any problem with the bolts for the manifold come loose? I have heard of a couple people have the bolts come loose, they had to keep checking the bolt torque every couple weeks. Any tips on install?

 

[DBraunig]

Mine had started to loosen after about two weeks, so i retorqued them. Checked them about two weeks after that and they had started to loosen again. I put some blue loctite on them that time and haven't had a problem since, that was 1 1/2 years ago.



Dave

 

[JGheen]

Mine come loose occasionally. Only the rear ones though. I check the torque on them just about every 2-3 weeks ad the rear ones are usually the culprits. All the others have been tight.

I used anti-seize on my bolts, not sure if I would use loctite on bolts that see such high heat all the time.



Joe

 

[ALehman]

Studs

I know one guy that purchased studs to replace the bolts. Anyone else tried that?

 

[AFarmer]

I've actually lost a couple out of mine. There is a lot of shaking and stuff going on - always a good practice to check stuff like that when doing routine stuff like oil changes & stuff.

 

[McLaughlin]

A diesel mechanic I trust recommends installing studs when replacing the exhaust manifold. Appearently the stud nuts aren't as prone to working loose.

 

[ALehman]

Where would a good place be to get cheap studs?

 

[NHays]

No problems here. I torqued mine though.

 

[MRector]

Ive got a BD manifold and mine too come loose fairly often. I just keep a allen head socket handy to check the looseness of the bolts and if I find one I just retorque them all. Oh, and DO NOT put lock tight on them, if you do you might as well buy a set of "EASY OUTS" at the same time to get the broken bolts out later!



mike

 

[DBraunig]

Ive got a BD manifold and mine too come loose fairly often. I just keep a allen head socket handy to check the looseness of the bolts and if I find one I just retorque them all. Oh, and DO NOT put lock tight on them, if you do you might as well buy a set of "EASY OUTS" at the same time to get the broken bolts out later!



mike

Mike,

Do you think i am going to have trouble like that if i ever have to remove the manifold? I didn't think i would have trouble from the loctite , i just got tired of having to retorque the bolts.



I wonder if i should try to back them out and clean the threads off, maybe use lockwashers instead. I recommended loctite earlier in this thread, but i don't want to give anyone bad advice.



Dave

 

[zstroken]

I don't think you will have problems with the loctite. The loctite will actually keep them from rusting in there. On an application that has a tendancy to rust, never sieze is the best, but some blue loctite, will coat the threads and keep them from rusting to the material. Other people may have a different opinion. Now red loctite could be a different story.

 

[Cooker]

I installed my ATS manifold with studs. There are some very good threads about using studs with an ATS manifold. If you do a search you should come up with all the information you need.

 

[MRector]

Well, we have just seen a few break flush with the head w/loctite--probably the red kind like zzstroken said(we didnt install these manifolds). Maybe a little torch heat wouldve helped. But every one I have helped install we have just used antiseize.



DBrauing----I dont think you need to take them out to clean them, heck, you may never any problem with them, even if you do have to remove them. I have just seen some break, thats all. Not meaning to scare just stating some facts.



I wish that I had used studs instead of bolts. But,, it has been nearly 3 months since I have had to re-torque, so maybe they have finally came to thier "seating point" .



On another note, maybe we should start a thread (poll type) on using loc-tite, antiseize, or both, studs, etc.



mike

 

[ALehman]

studs

I did some searching and my local True Value has hardened steel automotive studs that are perfect for the manifold. The thing that sucked was they only had 5 in stock. My new ATS manifold came with lockwashers so I just put the bolts in and will continue to check them. If it becomes a problem I will just order the studs from them.

 

[bmoeller]

Guess I'm lucky. I only had to retorque my bolts once. Still tight.