so instead of using studs on the head to hold my intake and headers to it, i was thinking of using heat treated bolts with a lock washer..

is this a good idea? or should i just go with the studs and nuts???


thanks

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

I'd rather use studs because that way when you take off all the nuts you can let the intake/exhaust sit on the studs until your ready to take them out, otherwise they will just drop.

Also IIRC the top left most and rightmost holes lead to coolant passages so if it were screws you remove them and out comes your coolant.

i'm having a problem with the studs.. i believe that they take some kind of goop when you put them in to help keep the coolant in.. there are water drips on the side of my engine and it's because the studs don't have any goop on them before they went in.. so since i'm going to put headers in, i figured why not go with bolts????

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

If your going to remove the studs anyway, why not remove them and reinstall with some sort of sealant?

I've told you why I wouldn't want to use bolts. Headers or a log manifold, why would that make a difference between bolts or studs? With a /6 there is no header clearance issues (as compared to a V-8) because they aren't tucked down by an inner fender.

anyone know where i can get a set of these studs?

They're standard manifold studs, 5/16" fine × 5/16" course × 2" (or maybe 2½"?). Dorman sells them.

Some or all of those stud holes in the head are drilled through to the water jacket. So if you remove the studs your coolant will leak out.

Use Permatex Blue RTV, its sealant for all water jackets, Its what you also use to install your expansion plugs.

Use Studs, Studs are always better than bolts. Just think, you cross thread a bolt puttin it in and out of the head, you weaken the threads, same as the valve cover. Put Studs on your valve cover too. Everthing is studded in my motor down to the main caps and cyl. head.

Pete

Permatex blue... Yuck.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Dennis is right. RTV is not the correct material at all! It is not a threadlocker and is not intended to seal threaded junctions. There is an anaerobic sealant specifically meant for this task, and that's what needs to get used on the cylinder head ends of the studs. RTV will just get pushed into the coolant passage and clog cooling system passages.

And core plugs don't need "sealing" either; the plug is the seal.

...when I get an old "Mopar" that has blue Permatex oozing from every crevice, I know I can also expect duct tape on the wiring, gum wrappers on the fuses, bondo packed into rust holes, the trans kickdown rod removed and discarded (and a burned up trans), sticks and bolts plugging vacuum hoses, all the ashtrays full of cigarettes, a bunch of stickers touting some NASCAR number, and a fram oil filter...

In short, I know some shivvy guy was the previous owner!

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

I think this is an exact description of my car! I just found a bird's nest in between the #3 runner and the exhaust manifold! But it did have a Amsoil filter instead of a Fram =)

MJ

Don't get discouraged; you're doing a great job getting the car in shape so far, and scootin' right along the learning curve...

Nah! There are only 2 discouraging factors for me at the moment:

1) Lack of time before say 7pm at night

2) The fact that you and Dennis live too far away to come over and guide me when I get a little befuddled

Otherwise I'm :loving: it

Cool, gum wrappers work for fuses? Cool! That'd be good to know in a pinch. LOL, usually I just buy fuses but now I get to save some money!