Pre-cat Griff exhaust manifold

[holmbush]

As a reasonably new Griff owner, I am experiencing for the first time the problems of tightening the exhaust manifold in the hope of curing a 'chuff' from no. 5 cylinder. Is there a trick of the trade or a particular type of spanner which makes this job easier? So far I have found this job to be near impossible but I appreciate that my limited experience with the Griff may be a big handicap. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Barreti]

There is a thread on here about replacement bolts we have used called ARP bolts which have 3/8 heads but chamfer out at the bottom as if they have an integral washer if you see what I mean, and some locking washers which for the life of me I can't remember what they are called right now. A search for ARP might bring up both though.

Oh, you really need to be underneath the car or at least sat in the wheel arch (with the wheel off obviously) to be able to get to them sensibly.

Complete of a job though.

[Barreti]

All you need is within, courtesy of the brilliant guys on here ... clicky

[spend]

holmbush said:

...I am experiencing for the first time the problems of tightening the exhaust manifold in the hope of curing a 'chuff' from no. 5 cylinder.

Personally I can't see how tightening the manifolds even more is going to cure a blow. IMHO you are just going to unevenly torque the flange and risk stripping the head threads or warp the flange..

Removal, inspection and new gaskets carefully fitted would be the sensible approach if you really want a solution.

[350Matt]

If you catch it early enough you can quite often fix a blowing gasket just be nipping up the bolt again lets faces it what do you have to lose?

If its still blows post 'nipping' then yes
manifold off
check for flange flatness
fit new gaskets ( metal composite type are best)
Use ARP bolts with titchy heads to make fitting much easier
all back together

The washers are called Nordlock and work very well

[holmbush]

Thanks for your help guys. I need to tighten the bolts because they are loose! Hopefully nipping them up will cure the blowing but if not, then it is new gasket time and replacing the bolts with ARP type and Nordman washers.

[holmbush]

Sorry Nordlock, not Nordman!