When putting this hemi together way back when, the first time I pulled the exhaust studs and used bolts. Some leaked. I put the studs back and have used them since. Now its going back together after the Torqueflite fiasco and my number one guru that helps me says' please get some header bolts. The nuts on the studs are an absolute ***** !!!!!!!!!! to install, when the heads are on the block and the engine is in the car unlike when the heads are on the bench like below. (Damned near impossible to get a wrench on the nut let alone tighten a few of them.) I talked with the Hot Heads lady and she said using Loc***e 567 will stop the bolts from leaking. Not that I doubt her at all, but maybe you guys here know of something better to use?
Looks like Loc***e 567 is a good choice to me. Read the specs. Sounds made to order for what you're doing. https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/us/en/product/thread-sealants/loc***e_567.html
"Loc***e 567 white thread sealant is compatible with metal materials with a 24 hr cure time. Delivers great performance with tensile strength of 15 psi. Minimum to maximum operating temperatures are -65 F to +400 F."
Your friend is correct about getting a wrench on the 3/8" nuts. I use close tolerance nuts. They are a flange style and use a 1/2" wrench/socket to install. Problem solved.
I used studs and 12 point nuts.....They use a 7/16 wrench...I have full length Hot Heads headers on my 392 and I made s special wrench to use on a few hard to get to nuts....
Not familiar with the Hemi but if they a 3/8” 16 thread there are header bolts with thick shoulders and 3/8” or 7/16” heads. They are the only bolts we can get on over over the back crossover headers on our dirt car. My Ford Y-Block with stock cast iron 57 manifolds rear bolt is almost impossible without those bolts. I’ve written this before on this site that when I worked in power plants and the small steam valves were replaced I took every packing adjustment bolts I could before they were s****ed because they were made like the header bolts with the smaller wrench head. McMaster-Carr sells them with 12 point heads box of 25 for $12...
Just a thank you everyone. Lok***e 567 it will be, that stuff is hard to find on the self. Amazon came through.
I used bolts rather than studs on my Desoto to make it easier to get the headers on and off inside the truck. I used ultra copper as well. Top bolts are in the oil of the valve cover, bottom header bolts are in the water jacket.
I just pulled the headers off my 64 Fairlane, I wish I had your problems with the FE and exhaust bolt pattern. I like the idea on using ultra copper on the threads; loc***e would make it near impossible to remove the lower bolts due to clearance issues and being able to get sufficient leverage. Studs are impracticable due to tight clearances.
Lock***e 567 is a thread sealant. It’s not a thread locking compound. It works well on bolts/studs going into coolant or oil. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.