Thread: Exhaust manifold bolts - Oops

So this is my first time removing the manifold bolts, and installing headers. Stupid me assumed that all of the studs/bolts were going to be the same size, but now that I'm prepping for installing the new headers, I see there are different sizes. I'm putting a link to the picture of the bolts that I have, and need some help identifying which ones go where.

I have 2 studs still in the block in the front, and 1 in the back. So that makes 11 that I'm guessing will hold the new headers on, but that makes me one short. There's 1 stud/bolt that has a different nut than all of the rest, but appears to be the same length. Then two extra long ones that I'm also unsure of where they go.


IMG_0345.jpg - Google Drive


Any help is appreciated.

ZZP supplied two "A" bolts, but that was it.

From memory there was one that was different because it held a bracket. I don't think it matters where you put them. Just make sure all are installed and torqued down good.

this stud with nut on it, then another nut holding the dip stick is about the only bolt that matters.

one more for fun.

Well, I got everything put back back together. Flushed the coolant, and refilled, and now it looks like there's a leak where the head bolt that I took out and replaced was.

Bolt need tighten more? Or head gasket issue now? When I put the bolt back in, I torqued it like they mentioned in a post. I think 90 ft lbs and then 120*. But when I did that, it sure felt like I could've tightened it more.

Once the car cools down I will see if I can tighten it more, and go from there.

exhaust leak or coolant leak?

Yes on the sealer. No on the cleaning of threads.

And Scotty that's a good question. It appears to be water, and not green. And it does only happen when the car is running.

Are you talking about a head bolt? Wtf? sounds like u reused the stock bolt and it's about to snap.

maybe one of the heater hoses spit some coolant or water out? find it hard for coolant to come out the head, the rest of the bolts are tight.

If you are leaking clear water ... well that's likely from your AC. Reason being is unless you put in straight water instead of coolant....then you don't have any water to leak.

On the bolts... the two longest ones held the cross over to the rear manifold, the two with bolt heads held the lifting brackets on and like Scott said.... the only other thing that matters is the oil dipstick being held in place.

I did flush the coolant system once i was done with the exhaust stuff, so there would be quite a bit of water in the system. And I'm pretty sure the water was coming from the headers. Once I tightened the bolts of the headers to the heads, it went away.

And I disagree with the important bolts. At least for the 04+, the transmission tube is bolted in down low below the headers. And with the headers there, you could not get that tube fastened down using the original hole. I had to use a flat bracket to hold it in place. And if that tube isn't in there, you lose like 3-4 quarts of transmission fluid. So that bolt is pretty important.