Advice for pulling exhaust bolts????

couldn't wait till morning! been soaking for three day with heat and a little tap now and then. the head bolts are lossening right off with out a fuss. Thanks guys!!!

 

I'm wondering as I read this if I put anti-sieze on my headers...I sure hope so!

Not a huge deal though as I'm *hopefully* switching to vortecs anyway, and I don't think broken bolts will make my rebuilder quality sbc heads any less valuable as cores.

 

I love this thread, gets more answers than any other. I have tried several methods and none of them is 100%. If the bolts are decomposed, there isn't anything you can pour on there that will keep them from breaking off. Personally, I wouldn't touch it unless you are prepared to do major surgery. Maybe you can patch up the manifold to get by until you have time to tear it down if you have to.

 

This is the way, dont listen to those people in california and texas and what have you. I dont think they've ever seen a rusty bolt. listen to someone that lives in the rust belt.

 

An afterthought,most cracked exhaust manifolds I have come across,there was missing or misplaced exhaust hangars supporting the rest of the system!

 

How true. I had a Chevy Blazer from NY come into my shop and the bolt heads were just little ****ons of rust on the exhaust manifolds.
But more Texans have rust issues than you might think.

 

I agree with Groucho, unless you have a good leak in the manifold gasket, you are not going to get the penetrating substance (oil, candle wax, whatever) into the threads because they are sealed up. Having said that though, it really cannot hurt to try a few shots event though it most likely wont work.

Honestly, the heating them and rapping them with a hammer is probably your best bet, that the go in knowing you are going to twist the heads off of a few.