stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

so in the process of cleaning up my my project z28

shes a 98 and has a bad exhaust leak on the driver side head. there is no bolt showing on the very last hole of the stock manifold. this is how i got the car from the owner. when i reach back there and try to put my finger in the hole im pretty sure i feel something in there. so im guessing they snapped the head off the bolt.

now heres my issue and question. i have some used longtubes and y pipe laying in my yard. i want to put them on, but do you guys think i have any chance of extracting that bolt without removing the head? im glad its driver side atleast. more room. i was thinking if maybe after all other bolts are removed and manifold comes out would i be able to turn bolt with pressure plyers? hit it with thread loostener. from what i feel it seems like just the head snapped off and the bolt still reaches almost through the manifold.

any experience with this? if heads need to come off im just going to fix up some 5.3s. i just hate the sound of an exhaust leak.

JUSTINSWS6

ya you can take it off and use a ez out. should have enough room.

transamtom

iTrader: (8)

Well you going to do the headers anyway,you might as well find out what your up against.

GLWI

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

indeed. the only issue is this is my only car. and dont want to have it down for more than a weekend. if i need to do heads the car will be down for more than a month. so i wanna make sure i can do this. if worse comes to worse i guess i can just throw the long tubes on and deal with leak. atleast car will sound better than with manifolds.

JUSTINSWS6

you have a ez out or access to one? also if any is sticking out i welded a a bolt on to one before on a different car and backed it out just fine. That is another thing you could do.

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

well i dont have an ez out but im sure its not to expensive to get one at a local parts store. or am i mistaken? i guess now i just need to cross my fingers and see what it looks like once manifold is off.

with the ez out i can do it without a drill?

JUSTINSWS6

Correct and correct. Do you have a welder? If the bolt is part of the way out?

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

unfortunately i dont. hopefully if bolt is sticking out i can get enough bite with the plyers and get it to turn.

JUSTINSWS6

If not you can probably have some one come out and weld it if plyers dont work.

87caprice318

iTrader: (1)

VICE GRIPS if you have the room!!

spiro27

most of them just break the head of the bolt out and you can grab it with a vice grip. if its broken in the head you will have to take the head off on that side. heads are easy you can do it in a weekend. or do what i did on my silverado just put silicone around the port and and tightend the rest down. it 2 years later and still holding. retighten the bolts afer a few heat up and cool down cycles

csess

I had a stage 8 locking bolt break when i did my lt install. Drive side also.....grabbed with vice grips an twisted right out. I would spray it down good with pb something tho.

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

Cool you guys motivated me to try. I will be attempting in the next few days and keep you updated.

Schantin

iTrader: (6)

As long as you can hit it with vice grips, should be able to pull it out. The factory torque is only 18ft/lbs. If it broke because the previous owner cross-threaded the bolt..... you'll probably have to pull the head and re-tap it. Won't know till you try.

s346k

iTrader: (4)

pretty sure long tubes don't use the same bolt hole on the back driver's side that the manifolds do..don't quote me on this.

nonetheless, remove the manifold and see what's up.

JUSTINSWS6

Pretty sure my kooks long tubes did ill check sometime

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

i think its only on the lt1 what uses different bolt holes for the long tubes. i could be wrong though. that sucks if they cross threaded it. seems like im fucked. like said i wont know until i try.

someone also mentioned that they used silicone for a temp fix if i need to pull head i may use this method for alittle while with long tubes. just until i can afford some heads and get them done up. i dont wanna do this job twice. any insight on how that would work?

transamtom

iTrader: (8)

Hi temp silicone won't work,there is too much pressure.

If it is cross threaded you might be able to re tap it while its on the car.

stangkiller2005

iTrader: (15)

Didn't think so. I hope they just broke the head and I dont need to retap.

meine96ws6

iTrader: (4)

Mine did the same thing, im just going to save, pull the heads and get them done at tea