I jumped in the roadster and drove up to get a haircut this morning and I noticed an odd backfire between gears on the left side. Then I noticed on my way to work that the car under heavy acceleration sounded funky, like an old lady walking on a foggy pier passing gas, again driver's side. I pulled into work and saw this No bolts, no gasket on the front header flange. I remember at least one of those bolts is 3/8 x 16, they both may be. The others are 7/16 x 14. Can anyone confirm that so I can buy a couple of SS bolts and locks on my way home? I just noticed when enlarging that picture, I think the gasket is still hanging there. It needs to cool off a bit before I go check. That would help.
That is what I recall. I think the 3/8 bolts go on the leading flange and the smaller ones on the back tubes. My buddy Kim had the day off and he is on his way to my office with a gasket, bolts and wrenches. Flathead buddies got to stick together.
Ford barn advise is to check the depth of the holes to make sure that you don't use bolts that are too long. https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294245
This is correct. 7/16-14 threads on front exh port bolts. 3/8 feel like they fit but fall out later....
Well I got the top bolt in and a gasket. I cannot get the bottom bolt to start. I likely need to loosen all of the header bolts on that side and kick it around to get the bolt started than snug them all back down. I tightened the top bolt so it has a gasket for the trip home. Then it is up onto the lift for a proper repair.
Damn Billy, it's 5am here and I near wet myself reading that description. If this hotrod thing doesn't work out, there is a job for you teaching Classic Literature. You would give Steinbeck a run for his money Cheers, Harv
as cool as stainless fasteners look, the have a tendency to not stay tight like steel fasteners do. Probably better check a bunch of bolts on your car and make sure they are tight.....
Agreed, the 2 biggies are header bolts and wheel bolts. Doing a full N&B is good practice, but those seem to be the most common.
I had a set of Stage 8 locks on my FE headers, never really loosed up but were a pain to put on. https://www.stage8.com/
I took it to another show tonight after work and the one bolt is holding for now. I have another show in the AM, then I will get it up on the lift and get those bolts back in. I need to loosen all of them I think to find the happy spot on that front bottom bolt. The gasket was indeed hanging on the block so that was cool. My buddy Kim had a copper gasket that slid in, I couldn't fit the one that fell out. I will take that copper one out tomorrow and put mine back. Old cars... drive 'em, bust 'em, fix 'em, repeat as necessary.
There’s another style of locking bolt. I think with some serrations, I forget. My buddy sent me a link a year or so back, he said they work fine and easier than the Stage 8’s he had used before. Edit: He may have been referring to something like this: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-66753
See if the angle is good to hold your phone camera down there and take a photo. That might show you exactly what to do.
The safty wire treatment is a good idea with S.S. hardware on heat related parts. If you choose to do that know that there is a Right and Wrong way to install the wire through the bolt head. The photo above is done correctly. It takes a quality tool and some practice to get a good looking (and working) safety wire job done.
The Jalopy Journal
