On mine a 3/8", 12 point, box end wrench works fine. It needs to be pretty
thin around the box or you will need to grind a little metal off of it so it
will fit beside the tubes. You just tighten the bolts as much as you can,
no specific torque needed. I use MP header gaskets and I don't think you
can actually blow them out, they are so thick. The worst that can happen
is a bolt will loosen and you get some leakage. Mine only leaked once in 6
years when a bolt loosened. I hadn't checked them in 3 years.
The normal procedure is to tighten them (when cold) after each time the
engine is run after the initial install. After about 3 or 4 heating and
cooling cycles you'll find they won't move any more. Then just check them
at each oil change and you should be fine. BTW, I use ARP stainless steel
header bolts. I had to order them as they needed to be about 1/4" longer
than the "normal" small block mopar bolts because of the thicker MP header
flange and gasket. They'll never rust, break or seize.
RayB
http://www.dragtruk.com/ENTRIES/20KM1FD2KWBP.html
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net]On Behalf Of Ken Allgood
> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 6:38 PM
> To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
> Subject: DML: Headers question
>
>
>
> Ok, for those of you that have put on Headers, how the heck do you get to
> the Exhaust Manifold bolts??? I had my headers installed about 6
> months or
> so ago, and blew the Exhaust Manifold Gasket over a month ago.
> Was going to
> try to attack it today, so I went and picked up some universal
> sockets so I
> could get a better angle on the bolts. Well, I cannot get to the bolts in
> the back (also noticed on the driver side, the next to last bolt is just
> gone, so I gotta replace that one). Figured since I couldn't pull the
> headers off, and noticed some of them were loose, I would tighten
> them down.
> So I broke out my trusty torque wrench, set it for 22lbs and got to work.
> Now, the thing sounds like a freaking top fuel dragster, and doesn't sound
> like it's running real good. I only let it run for about 30 seconds, long
> enough to back it out of the garage, revved it one or 2 times, and sounded
> like it was stumbling some. Maybe this is caused by the
> tightening down of
> the blown gasket??? Anyway, how can you get to those bolts? Open end
> was impossible to get back there as well... Oh yeah, Positive
> Performance
> Headers.
>
> Ken Allgood
> 97 CC SLT 5.2L
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:47:11 EST