Broken stud on crossover

[ikessky]

One of the three studs broke off when I was removing the crossover tube from the rear exhaust manifold. Do you guys think I can hook it back up with just the two studs or do you think I'll get a nasty exhaust leak?

[3100 MPFI]

you will get a nasty exhaust leak.

With the crossover off, you can spray it with PB BLASTER, and let it soak, then get some vice grips on it, and remove it.

The stud just screws into the manifold, so you can get another one to replace it with. I have a few spares that I keep as a just in case. I think they are the same as the exhaust manifold studs.

Not sure about getting them new. I just pick them up from the junkyard.

[ikessky]

Crap, that's what I was afraid of. I'll see what I can find in the bolt bin and if that doesn't work, maybe I'll give a couple places a call tomorrow.

[3100 MPFI]

don't quote me on this, but I THINK you can use an INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLT. I THINK I did that once, but I not 100% sure about it. If I did use it, it was just to get to the parts store, or junkyard to get the right one.

[ikessky]

Just looking at the stud and nut setup, I'm tempted just to make my own with a piece of threaded rod that I have sitting here.

[bszopi]

You can find them at auto parts stores. I know I had to do that once.

[ikessky]

I'm going to give CarQuest a call today and see if they have them or can get them.

[3100 MPFI]

Make sure the nuts have the little triangle indents on the top's of them. If they don't then they will loosen up. The ones with the little triangles (just look at a stock one and you will see what I mean), those are LOCKING ones. When the thread of the stud gets to the top of the nut, you can't finger tighten them anymore.

They are also used on the exhaust manifolds nuts, as well as some other ones in the car. I think I have those on my torque struts as well. They don't come loose like some normal ones do.




Forgot to add that I am mentioning the triangles because the last time I bought some, they didn't have those, and one of them came loose on me. It was on my 1990 Grand Prix STE with the 3.1 MPFI, and that crossover only has 2 holding it in istead of 3.

[ikessky]

The dealership has 3 in stock, so I'm going to make a parts run tonight. As long as that torque strut mount comes off decent, I should have everything cleaned up by the end of the night and ready to reinstall. I'm wondering if I should even try to take off the exhaust manifolds or if I should just leave them well enough alone. I have a some PB Blaster that I can hit the bolts with, but I'm just worried that I'll break some off.

[geldartb]

you might snap the studs off in the head. had it happen when i took the top end off my beretta when i did the top end swap.

try napa they had the manifold studs when i was looking before. dealership wanted like 10 bucks for 4 nuts i got enough to do both heads for around the same price from napa.

[ikessky]

I'll hit them with PB Blaster tonight and let it soak for quite a while before I start trying to remove them. I guess if they break I'll have to deal with it when it happens. After thinking about it, it doesn't make much sense to clean virtually every other part in the engine and not the exhaust ports.

[ikessky]

Well, the heads are off and in the hot tank right now. Okay, it's not an actual hot tank. It's a basement sink filled with hot water and Dawn dish soap.

Do you guys happen to know the actual size of the exhaust manifold studs? I called CarQuest and he doesn't have any listed on the computer, but he knows that they have them. I would really rather call them in the morning and give them the size so they can start looking rather than driving 15 minutes only to find out they can't find one. The dealership can get them, but they wouldn't be in until Thursday or Friday.

Just a note, only one stud broke and it was one that actually looked good (no rust). I managed to get the piece out using my trusty Snap-On extractor tool. It was actually the first time I have successfully used it, so I was a little nervous. The first (and last!) time I tried it I ended up breaking the drill bit inside the bolt!