Header bolt tricks for leaky flange? Cant get in there

[crazypete]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to clamp down my longtubes to kill a leaky #4 cylinder exhaust flange and I just cant get a wrench in there. I thought of maybe using studs but then I wouldnt be able to slide the heads off and I couldnt get a screwdriver in there to drive the studs in in the first place. Washers dont work since there is zero clearance in there to begin with. I cant get a socket over the bolt heads. I can get half a boxwrench over it for little 1/8 turns but it's real close to stripping the bolts and I cant apply pressure.

What did you guys do when encountering PITA header bolts?

 

[cheddarbacon]

easy out

if you strip it you have no chocie but to get this thing at autozone for like 10 dollars its called easy out youlll see. it gets any bolt out.

 

[crazypete]

I'm less worried about stripping than the fact that I cant really put pressure on the bolt: the wrench slides off so I cant get a good seal. This is the third set of gaskets I have tried.

 

[cheddarbacon]

ratchit wrench

dude do you have a pair of raciting wrenchs ???

 

[crazypete]

You mean those boxwrenches with a little inner part that can spin?

I actually dont.....but it wouldnt make a difference since there is a 1 mm itty bitty gap between the bolt head and the tube wall of the exhuast. I really cant even slide a loose socket over it. The boxwrench hits the same sidewall after an 1/8th of a turn. Such a PITA. On the other bolt head, I cant even slide the boxwrench over the bolt.

 

[SamSnyder]

I used a set of grade 8 socket head bolts on my shorties, allowing me to use a ball-end hex wrench on the bolts. The was no interference with the tubes, and the ball-end allowed me to attack the bolts from the odd angles involved. I think I paid about $10 for the bolts and another $10 for a good ball-end allen wrench set. I used locktite red on the bolts, and they haven't given me a problem in 7 years. The only issue might be that you probably can't apply as much torque to a bolt with a ball end allen wrench that you might on a regular bolt with a socket or an open end wrench, but if you need that much tightening you've likely got other problems anyway.

 

[crazypete]

Thats a good idea!

What you do for torque is get a hex driver for a screwdriver and a 6 or 7 mm socket and then you can ratchet it. I did this on my coolant elbow once.

I'm gonna go try this...

 

[jerryD]

get a crows foot. it will do wonders for you.

 

[jrichker]

I used a set of grade 8 socket head bolts on my shorties, allowing me to use a ball-end hex wrench on the bolts. The was no interference with the tubes, and the ball-end allowed me to attack the bolts from the odd angles involved. I think I paid about $10 for the bolts and another $10 for a good ball-end allen wrench set. I used locktite red on the bolts, and they haven't given me a problem in 7 years. The only issue might be that you probably can't apply as much torque to a bolt with a ball end allen wrench that you might on a regular bolt with a socket or an open end wrench, but if you need that much tightening you've likely got other problems anyway.

I do the same thing. The bolts I used are stainless steel & I have them drilled for safety wire. I am currently too lazy to safety wire them, but I have in the past. Looks great when its done right, and they never come loose.