Replacing exhaust manifold to ypipe studs

[boat]

Just exactly as the title says. I am looking to get my exhaust manifold to ypipe studs replaced before we do my rod bearings in about 3 weeks. Reason being, whomever put the ypipe on before me, put the wrong hardware on and I had to re-use it, so the threads may be all boogered up, and one of my front exhaust studs are broken off, so 3 nuts are holding my ypipe on.

I searched this out and around the last time anyone said anything on the forum about this was TYSHO back sometime in 2004. So it can't hurt to start a new "thread".

Can anyone give me some guidance that has done this recently with the engine IN the car? What happens if I break a stud while trying to get them out? Can the rear exhaust manifold be removed with the engine in the car? Front doesn't look too bad to me. I did find a thread that talked about the exhaust manifold stud extractors, like 5/16 and 3/8. Does Harbor Freight sell these?

I am planning on getting the Ford ones that are hot dipped galvanized, but still plan on using the copper antiseize.

This isn't a job I have been looking forward to,

Help please...

 

[Ishodu]

If there is still material there and if you don't have cutting welding torches it would be worth it to take it to someone who does. 20 mins they will have it done. If you do it and break them off it could be days of screwing around. I replaced mine using torches, heated the section around the stud till it was red and then just twisted them out. Took no time at all.

 

[matasho]

I replaced a couple of them on one of my 89s i would not attempt this without the use of an Oxygen/Acetylene torch. Heat up the manifold around the stud until the manifold is bright red and just turn the stud out. i think without the deat the stud will just break off. and then you have a huge headache of exacting the stud.
if you already have one broken, and there is still a little sticking out you can use the same method but if its broken off flush with the manifold i suggest taking it to someone that deals with this stuff on a daily basis.

 

[1bad98SHO]

If you have one that is broken off that sticks out far enough you can take a properly sized nut and weld it to the remainder of the broken stud. Do this all the time at work. Even on some studs that are broken flush this technique works for me. Once the stud is welded to the nut then just take a socket and turn the nut out and the stud should come with it.

 

[ultimatesho]

just had to get mine done about a month ago.......the stud extractors r a waste of time on them......not enuf room to move em and still not enuf force with em to pull the studs

as stated weld or have a nut welded on heat em up and pull em out......IIRCC i paid $10 to have 2 broke studs pulled and new ones put in at a local exhaust shop

both manifolds CAN b taken off with the engine in hte car.....atleast with a MTX.....takes a bit of maneuvering but they will come out

 

[NEp8ntballer]

leave the manifolds on. I replaced the front two without heat. soaked em in PB blaster for a week and it was still a *****. one of them came out in one piece but one of them snapped off. I ended up cutting that one off with a dremel, drilling it out and then retapping the hole.

 

[boat]

Of the stud that is broken, it is the first 1" of it that is broken off. If the exhaust manifolds can be taken off the engine with it in the car, that is most likely what I will do, and then take them to an exhaust shop here in town.

As far as the welding goes, I am quite limited on what I have, no welder, no welding skills, and no torches. Not to mention, I don't even have a garage right now My garage is outside.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[matasho]

sounds like thats your best bet. take the manifolds off and take them to an exhaust shop and have them replace them.

 

[operdot]

The manifolds are not hard to take off, the rear one is harder but its possible. If you decide to go that route make sure you buy new gaskets, as the old ones are no good once you take them off.

 

[NEp8ntballer]

think of it this way. if you snap a manifold bolt/stud you're in over your head but if you dick up removing the y pipe stud it's a headache but not impossible.

 

[Mrhappytuzi]

i took both exhaust manifolds off of my atx to replace the studs. it was actually quite simple and i reused the old manifold gaskets so... i dunno i figure it was just an extra 10 minutes to take each manifold off. wasnt hard at all actually.


i also picked up the studs from autozone from the "HELP!" section. I think the box said Ford V8 or something like that. had to get two box's tho. Kit also includes a bunch of random hardware that i didnt need.

 

[SHOtimer]

www.shonutperformance.com - sells a stainless steel set for our cars that works very well.

Doug

 

[Shoaz]

BTW, I just this morning took the Y-Pipe out of the Pumpkin, a job I was dreading because the studs were not in great shape when we assembled everything and that was nearly five years ago.

I was happily surprised that it came off extremely easily. Then I remembered I'd done my usual treatment of slathering the studs in anti-seize grease during assembly. I highly recommend doing that on those Y-Pipe studs since they're such a pain to replace and a bit of a PITA to get at, anyway.

 

[93rev2sev]

Boat, remove the manifolds. It's a lot easier. Not a little easier...a lot easier.

You don't need oxy, either. MAPP will do just fine.