Exhaust Manifold Bolts - HELP!

[Sandgrounder]

I've lost the lower bolt on cylinder 3 on a V6, (ie. the one without a nut).

Does anybody know what size it is???

Had a nightmare trying to figure out how it can hide from me.

Thanks

[phillpot]

Mine are all bolts, not studs and nuts.

M8 x about 25mm long.

[Sandgrounder]

Thanks Philpott. In the end, I gambled on M8, and guessed the length.

I was sceptical about fitting my replacement gaskets, as I thought they looked suspect (alloy sheet). Also, the man at motor factors swore blind he never uses sealing paste, so I didn't, despite advice given in the Bible. What a mistake.

Have to do it all again next weekend!!!! With decent gaskets AND sealing paste.

[phillpot]

Have to say I'm with the man at the motor factors, never used paste on manifold gaskets.

Have you had the manifolds right off ? With mine I found the faces that mate up to the cylinder heads were distorted, a lot of careful filing sorted them and I cut the "links" out between the three flanges so they could pull up individually.

Good luck

[Sandgrounder]

Manifold was still on, pulled it away from engine and could only get approx 6 mm clearance.

Tried scraping old sealant off with a razor blade, but I am wondering if the faces are distorted.

Good idea getting rid of the joining links. I can't see what use they are, more of a hindrance really.

I'll order some decent gaskets (the one with the copper flame ring) and use paste. If that doesn't work, I guess it's a bit of 'adaptation'.

Cheers

[phillpot]

Sandgrounder said:

Good idea getting rid of the joining links. I can't see what use they are, more of a hindrance really.

Probably make alignment during manufacture a lot easier ?

[greymrj]

I'm with Phillpot on this one. Remove the studs and clean out the M8 threads. Clean the faces and check they are level, gasket on without sealant. Replace the studs with M8 stainless bolts, stainless washer under head, copperslip on the threads. 3 years on all is well, and I can still free off the bolts.

Did a silly trick on manifold to new stainess exhaust header pipes though. Removed damaged studs and carefully drilled out. Fitted stainless socket head cap screws and nut, worked wonderfully FAR better to get alignment. Only problem was I used a nylock! Doooo. Nylock insert burnt out, nut vibrated loose on a charity car run. Trusty bit of coat hanger saved the day, now use stainless double nuts!

[lewdon]

Gaskets I used for my S2 were from [e-mail] description on the receipt was EXHAUST GASKET: 2.4/2.9 V6 COLOGNE TV1485 x3 = £5.85 + P&P £2.46 + Vat ( they come individually, not joined together, and as I was only refitting one manifold I only bought 3)thry were composite material with an inner ring.
I also bought a set of 12 Stainless exhaust bolts/washers/spring washers from JEZ1964 on Ebay. Search for Ford Cologne, V6 2.9 TVR exhaust bolt set.for £6.50 plus £1.50 P&P they were the correct size. I used copperease on the threads and no gasket sealant. That was about 6 months ago and no sign of any leaks up to now.

[Sandgrounder]

Thanks for advice chaps. Though I'm still in a quandry.

I have 3 proper gaskets on order from GasketsforClassics (should have gone there in first place).

I'll order some new SS bolts, etc. and also buy some copperease.

Still veering towards advice from Steve Heath though, so will probably apply some Holts Firegum during assembly.

Graham