, did you use new bolts or old bolts? 
Header bolt broke off , will it leak ?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Header bolt broke off , will it leak ? The very last bolt on the drivers side broke off on what would have been like the second last turn before it was snug . It was going in funny from the get go , all the other bolts went in a bit snug but with no real problems . This one didnt feel right . I pulled out and tried a bunch of different bolts from the other areas off the headers and none felt any better . I figured I was just being over paranoid but it snapped off inside the head 
I almost think the factory had cross threaded it because it was a BITCH to get out . I hand thread all my bolts in first too , something wasnt right .
Anyways , can I just leave it snapped off ? All the other bolts are nice and tight . The headers are kooks so they have a massive fat header flange to keep pressure on not some bendy peice of tin . Anyone experience this ? Id like to just leave it until I get a set of heads next season if possible ??
Thanks guys .
I almost think the factory had cross threaded it because it was a BITCH to get out . I hand thread all my bolts in first too , something wasnt right . Anyways , can I just leave it snapped off ? All the other bolts are nice and tight . The headers are kooks so they have a massive fat header flange to keep pressure on not some bendy peice of tin . Anyone experience this ? Id like to just leave it until I get a set of heads next season if possible ??
Thanks guys .
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
How much exhaust gas presure do you think the headers get exposed to ? The more I think about it the more I think it should be ok unless theres ALOT of pressure on it . Those are some fatty flanges . Keep your fingers crossed for me
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
I have the MAC headers. It's not the flange thickness that seals, but the pressure from the tightened bolt clamping the flange and gasket to seal against the head. Mine seemed fine at first, then a couple of months later I could see black soot on the cylinder head right by the bottom side flange with the broken bolt. Like I said I ran mine for months like that until I pulled the heads because it was too deep in the hole to pull out.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Yeah your right it will probably leak . I was thinking the thicker flange would be less prone to release that pressure from the five good fasteners over a thin flange . I was doing some searching and I think Im going back them off and run high temp sealer around the last tube .
a friend of mines' 93 TA had the last bolt on the driver side break also
his was fine for a few months, but eventually the leak got worse and worse
before we pulled his motor out, it got to the point where it sounded like a really loud, high pitch whistle was coming from under the hood
it was pretty damn annoying
his was fine for a few months, but eventually the leak got worse and worse
before we pulled his motor out, it got to the point where it sounded like a really loud, high pitch whistle was coming from under the hood
it was pretty damn annoying
