Thank's Jake I was starting to think I hallucinated hearing they existed, with no response. But now I wonder if GM doesn't sell them anymore if he doesn't carry them now.
Go to your local marine supply store, they should stock SS bolts in the correct thread. My local one had them. figure regular bolts (1.5")for all the ones that don;t have the heat shields, and ones that are threaded long enough to make a stud (2"-2.25"), and get 2 nuts for them. Get some SS flat washers while you are there too. You can get lock washers if you want, but honestly I have never seen an exhaust bolt loosen and fall out unless it had an ovaled redrilled hole in the block and poor loose fit. Next, when installing them, be sure you slather the threads in the block and the bolt threads with neverseize. When installing the intakes, use a paper thin coat of permatex ultracopper hi temp rtv on both sides of the gasket. won;t leak, comes apart easily, and lasts a long time. DON'T get the cheapo Home depot ss bolts, (doubtful they have the right size anyway, they use a low grade ss, very soft and somewhat magnetic.) One drawback is you will likely pay as much for the ss bolts there as you would a hardened stud set. The advantage is if you install them like I did, they come right back out, and evern after 2 NE winters, they are as nice and shiny as the cereamic coatingon the sprint headers,
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07:03 AM
chrishahn87 Member
Posts: 1584 From: East Berlin, Pa - USA Registered: Dec 2004
I just bought a set of studs from The Fiero Warehouse. They had a stand set up at the "Fieros at Carlisle" show in Carlisle, Pa just last month.
Maybe check with them? They do not look like they are stainless, but I am sure they are hardened in some way. I do not see any stampings on them marking the hardness...
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07:53 AM
chrishahn87 Member
Posts: 1584 From: East Berlin, Pa - USA Registered: Dec 2004
Originally posted by tjm4fun: When installing the intakes, use a paper thin coat of permatex ultracopper hi temp rtv on both sides of the gasket. won;t leak, comes apart easily, and lasts a long time.
Are you sure you dont mean "when installing the exhaust manifolds"
As for the advice for installing the (Permatex Ultracopper - hi temp rtv) on both sides of the exhaust manifold gasket... I STRONGLY advise anyone who is changing out these gaskets to use this gasket sealer!
I have used it in the past with GREAT success!!! I also used lock washers, on both manifold bolts and the nuts (for the studs), and have had great success over the years without problems!!!
I don't know that I would want to use stainless bolts in my heads. Stainless will gall up faster than steel and break off. The studs and nuts work better because a nut is easier to remove than a bolt in a blind hole.