Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

put in some longtubes on my car today, and the drivers side manifold bolt right by the coolant sensor decided to bust on me......maybe was overtorquing it but really didnt think i was.....now when i gas it up to high rpms, when i let off and start letting it deaccelerate, the car really backfires 2-3-4 times......the cops around here do not like cars like this......true duals, longtubes, bullet mufflers......so, rather then removing the head and getting the bolt out, is there aanyway i can rig something up to help this seal better? just dont feel like tearing it apart for another month or so.....can i just squeeze a bunch of make your own gasket around the leak? i mean its not terible but when idling and standing nexxt to it with the hood up, you can here it a bit......what about just throwing a lot of high temp silicone on it?

jlcustomz

Sorry, but you,re not going to fix the leak by smearing silicone around it.Not sure how much room you have, cuz my ls isn't in a camaro, but I have twice drilled out a broken header/manifold bolt in a tight spot. rented a compact 90 degree drill & used a short left handed drill bit. Heat & friction of drilling in reverse may cause bolt to back out.
Sounds like you didn't have a proper quality bolt if you were able to break it in the first place.

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

yea my buddy said the head would need to be removed in order for me to fix it.......its the first bolt tho and it looks like if you remove the coils and header, you may be able to access it......can any auto shop do it? Smearing a bunch of silicone wouldnt even help a little?

VandykeT/A

The silicone is just going to make a mess you'll have to clean off when you decide to fix it. I would pull the header back off and hope I had enough sticking out of the head to get a pair of vicegrips on it. If not your going to have to pull the head and drill it out. You might try loosening a motor mount and jacking up the engine, removing coils, valve cover and header and getting a drill in there. I would hate to pull a head over 1 bolt to but some times it happens. Good luck.

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

i know the silicone will be a mess, but will it temporarily work/ make it semi better?

Mean87SS

iTrader: (21)

Take the head off...

VandykeT/A

Smearing the silicone won't help. The only temporary solution that might work is try getting a more forgiving gasket than the MLS ones. Something like the percys with fuzzy stuff might accidently seal but I honestly doubt it. Pulling one head and putting it back could be done in a day no problem. If I was dead set on leaving the broken bolt you might try siliconing that end with new more forgiving gasket but I honestly think you'll end up pulling it.

5w20

iTrader: (21)

Just fix it correctly.

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

alright ill get on it

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

lol maybe i will throw 1 243 on there....jk

MyFirstLS1

iTrader: (8)

I would definitely trying pulling the header off and see what you have from there. I cant see why you can drill it out and leave the head on

VandykeT/A

If the head broke off the bolt and didn't leave any threads attached to it more than likely you've got 1/4 inch of bolt sticking out. A good set of vice grips may twist it right out once the headers off.

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

there was maybe 1/16 or 3/32 on the bolt head

RabidStreetRacer

iTrader: (1)

Just tried this on the engine I bought. t exhaust bolts were sheered off smooth in the head. I tried a quality EZ-Out and it snapped like a tooth pick. So I took the heads off and while they were in the shop I got some work done. I say try the EZ out and if it breaks then you know what you have to do.

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

i have no time this week to do it so looks like im going to ocean city backfiring......im goona loosen the header atthe flange and head.....then see if i can get some grips on it as suggested earlier

Sumter

iTrader: (3)

Weld a washer to the broken bolt in head then weld a bolt to the washer, then unbolt like normal

Floorman279

iTrader: (11)

so i removed my header and the bolt is flush against the head.......got some of that make ur own gasket stuff....the black almost grease feeling stuff , i think rite stuff, in an aerosol type of can, and put a bunch of that on the head and the header.......put back on and the leak is 80% better....for now.......no more backfiring but you can still hear it sometimes......best im goona do for now.

Mudweizer

I would follow this advice, aluminum head, steel bolt, they don't mix. You could just weld and build up on the broken bolt and then remove with vice grips!