exhaust manifold studs
 

Im getting ready to clean and repaint my manifolds and I cant get 2 studs out of one. I have been soaking it in wd-40 for about a week now and I still cant get them out? Any help guys?

The only other way is to heat them with a torch.

Randy how hot do you have to get it? do you think one of those little propane torches will work?
thanks Devin

Yeah a propane torch will work for that. We used to use that all the time at the auto ranch for getting those little bastards out.

The studs are notorious for not coming out. I believe that Randy70C-10 means acetylene torch, not propane.

I had a friend that worked at a muffler shop who routinely burned the studs out with a cutting torch. then he ran a tap to clean up the threads.

I first would heat the manifold and try to remove the studs. Only if the stud snapped, then I would burn and tap.

So do you have to heat up the stud or the manifold itself?
Thanks

You need to heat the manifold itself. Usually you have to get it
pretty hot, (cherry red), for the stud to come out. Try not to heat the stud as it weakens it, and be carefully not to pull the stud to the side as they will bend easily when hot.

When the manifold ear is hot, the studs will come out easily, most of the time. If they turn too hard, I will heat them up more.

Good luck,

Jim

Maybe I have been lucky, but I have never had to heat the manifold ears untill they were cherry red. Propane torches have worked well for me. The idea is to get the ear hot enough to expand the metal arround the stud, without heating the stud itself. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

The heat also helps to break the chemical bond between the stud and the manifold (oxidation, ie RUST). It does not have to be "red" hot. Heating the manifold makes it expand away from the stud, but heating the stud gets the heat more locally to the threads. Who cares about weakening the stud as you are going to throw it away, as long as it doesn't break off! You may try using candle wax once you get the stud hot. Place it around the base where it joins the manifold and the wax will wick into the joint using capillary action and help lubricate/release the threads.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will give it a try tommorrow
Thanks Devin