I was under the car checking out my frame damage (see earlier post for details), when I remembered I heard a slight exhaust leak. Moving to the passenger side, I noticed the pipe was loose. I wiggled it, and all three bolts on the bottom of the manifold (holding the pipe on) stripped in unison. Now I have a HUGE exhaust leak (sounds like a Nascar). What is the best way to remove these? Where can you get replacements? I really don't want to remove the manifold, if at all possible. I still have nightmares about breaking off a manifold bolt in the head of my '96 T/A. I checked at Autozone, in the help section (someone earlier suggested I look there) but the only bolts they have are for newer vehicles, the kind with the spring. Any help, guys? Thanks!
I hate to say this, but my experience with exhaust systems is that you often have to drill them out. Over time, they rust and "weld" themselves to the manifold, and there's just no way to get them out. I hate exhaust work!
I had to replace all of the studs in my manifolds not long after buying my 73.
If yours are anything like mine were the manifolds will have to come off. It took liberal amounts of penetrating oil and alternating heating, cooling, soaking, and cussing to get the studs out of the ram horns. I still had to use an easy-out on at least two of them.
Even after replacing the studs I kept getting new leaks every couple of weeks until I replaced the doughnut gasket with a steel one, replaced the stud set with stainless hardware (steel studs, stainless nuts) from Voluteer vette, and replaced all of the manifold to head bolts.
I haven't had a exhaust leak in about 2 years now though (knock on wood)
:smash:
Corvette Store
Exhaust leak
