Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

[Richard J.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

I've had a problem keeping the header bolts tight on my exhaust manifold. What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way) Header company sold me a handful of those and I have them on the car now. Was curious as to the name of them.

Unfortunately, french clips wont work with my headers.

Good question RF.... Glad you asked. Lot of good responses...

[Joe L.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

I've had a problem keeping the header bolts tight on my exhaust manifold. What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way) Header company sold me a handful of those and I have them on the car now. Was curious as to the name of them.

Unfortunately, french clips wont work with my headers.

Richard------


The best solution to the problem of header bolts coming loose is to remove the headers from the car, throw them in the dumpster, and get a set of stock, cast iron exhaust manifolds. Header bolts coming loose is just one of the problems associated with headers. There are numerous others. For a street car, I say forget them. I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a set of headers on a street car.

[Richard J.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Richard------


The best solution to the problem of header bolts coming loose is to remove the headers from the car, throw them in the dumpster, and get a set of stock, cast iron exhaust manifolds. Header bolts coming loose is just one of the problems associated with headers. There are numerous others. For a street car, I say forget them. I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a set of headers on a street car.

Interesting theory, but my question was, "What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way)"

[Joe L.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Interesting theory, but my question was, "What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way)"

Richard-----


Those are a specialty (and, I think proprietary fastener) and I have no idea what the nomenclature is for them.

[Ray G.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Richard------


The best solution to the problem of header bolts coming loose is to remove the headers from the car, throw them in the dumpster, and get a set of stock, cast iron exhaust manifolds. Header bolts coming loose is just one of the problems associated with headers. There are numerous others. For a street car, I say forget them. I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a set of headers on a street car.

Hello Joe;
We have a '55 Nomad with an '80s 350 cu. in.
Bought it w/ headers.
Have wanted to change to OEM manifolds.

Is there a good looking manifold I could install?

Always appreciate your posts on the TDB.
Thanks for your help.
Ray

[Joe C.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Richard------


The best solution to the problem of header bolts coming loose is to remove the headers from the car, throw them in the dumpster, and get a set of stock, cast iron exhaust manifolds. Header bolts coming loose is just one of the problems associated with headers. There are numerous others. For a street car, I say forget them. I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a set of headers on a street car.

The use of stainless steel safety wire is, as was previously stated, one way to POSITIVELY lock header bolts in place. Another effective solution is the use of "Stage 8" fastener kits.

[Joe C.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Interesting theory, but my question was, "What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way)"

Whiz-Lock is a registered trademark of the MacLean-Fogg Co.

[Michael W.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Interesting theory, but my question was, "What to you call the washers shown at the 9 o'clock position on the blue background pic at the bottom of the page? (interlocking washers split the long way)"

I would call them a waste of time, but that's not the answer you want to hear either. If a bolt wants to loosen, no fancy washer will stop it.

[Joe L.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

Hello Joe;
We have a '55 Nomad with an '80s 350 cu. in.
Bought it w/ headers.
Have wanted to change to OEM manifolds.

Is there a good looking manifold I could install?

Always appreciate your posts on the TDB.
Thanks for your help.
Ray

Ray------


I think about the best looking manifold available are the 2-1/2" outlet 62-65 Corvette ram's horn manifolds. These even have the cast-on brackets for generator mounting. These are no longer available from GM, but they are available in reproduction. Also, you should be able to find these used at swap meets. They have been very popular for years and many were sold over-the-counter by GM.

If you find a used set, have them bead blasted and paint with VHT ultra high temperature cast iron paint (or, better yet, have Jerry MacNeish coat them and then spray with the VHT paint) and they'll look like new for as long as it will matter to you.

The casting numbers you'd be looking for are GM #3797901 (with forward, side generator mount as mounted on the left side of engine), 3797902 (with forward, side generator mount as mounted on the right side of the engine), and GM #3846559 (with FRONT generator mount as mounted on the left side of the engine. Any of the above can also be used on the opposite side of the engine, but then you end up with an unused mount at the rear. To have a manifold "clean" of generator mount for the non generator side of the engine, you need a GM #3797942. You'll almost never find one of these used, but they can be had in reproduction.

[John H.]

Re: Very Interesting "Bolt Science"

The use of stainless steel safety wire is, as was previously stated, one way to POSITIVELY lock header bolts in place.

Yup. 3/4"-long header bolts are too short to stretch in order to maintain clamping force in the joint; long before the Stage 8 locking bolts were available, I used ARP pre-drilled small-hex NASCAR header bolts, safety-wired with .032" stainless wire on project cars with headers. Zero issues with blown gaskets - never had a leak or failure.