Retorque 454 exhaust manfd bolts?

[TomW]

Last weekend saw the installation of a new, RH, exhaust manifold gasket on my '84 454. Let's see, the PO went through a least one RH exhaust manifold, I have replaced one, and now, although thankfully the manifold itself was good, der gasket was kaput.

454s, I read, are hard on exhaust manifolds. So, I don't think I am installing anything wrong. I also read about retorquing the exhaust manifold bolts every so often. How often?

Is it recommended to back the bolt out a quarter turn or so then retorque? What do you do?

Thanks,
Tom

[PeterH-350LE]

Did you check your exhaust manifold for warping?
A good machine shop will be able to plane them if needed.
To get a good torque reading, I cleaned the threads and the bolts and I retorqued them after about 200 miles.
No problems so far after 10K miles (with new exhaust manifolds I may add)

[59toaster]

Originally Posted by PeterH-79MH

Did you check your exhaust manifold for warping?
A good machine shop will be able to plane them if needed.
To get a good torque reading, I cleaned the threads and the bolts and I retorqued them after about 200 miles.
No problems so far after 10K miles (with new exhaust manifolds I may add)

There are two different versions of manifold gasket. If you paid under $10 you got the cheaper. The good ones are around $20 and made by Feldpro.
The better version is made like a head gasket complet with a stainles steel fire ring. The cheaper set is the waffle looking tin foil covered deal.

MS90502 is the part number for the better feldpro's on www.autozone.com They list as $20.99 and they are not where it makes sense. look under power train and engine managment. Makes more sense to be in engine external where the intake gasket and egr gaskets are.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by 59toaster

...The better version is made like a head gasket complet with a stainles steel fire ring. The cheaper set is the waffle looking tin foil covered deal...

Gotcha covered in the "good parts department".

The manifold is in great shape, and I've got my sound back from only the turbo mufflers.

What do think about re-torquing the bolts on a regular basis?

Thanks,
Tom

[wb13798]

when i replaced my manifolds Mr good wrench said don't use a gasket use the copper hi temp silicone. after two years i haven't re-torqued and don't have any leaks. how ever the manifolds must be flat at the mating surfaces. so if you don't have a machine shop nearby to verify the surfaces, might not be a bad idea to stay with the gasket. and re torque when the motor gets hot, up to normal temp.
i burnt a set of good fel pros in six month as my old manifolds were warped.

[IPM]

It would not hurt anything to check them with a torque wrench from time to time. I use hedman headers and have not checked them since installation. Used the gaskets that came with the headers.

[swebster]

I've been checking my bolts at each oil change (hedmanns as well). I bought a copper gasket from Jegs but it didn't fit well and leaked. I switched to the ones that came with the headers and its been solid ever since.

[59toaster]

Originally Posted by tcwilliams

Gotcha covered in the "good parts department".

The manifold is in great shape, and I've got my sound back from only the turbo mufflers.

What do think about re-torquing the bolts on a regular basis?

Thanks,
Tom

That's the cheaper one.
I actually only replaced the REALLY bad one and have not don the bad one. I'll get a picture of it tonight.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by 59toaster

That's the cheaper one.
I actually only replaced the REALLY bad one and have not done the bad one. I'll get a picture of it tonight.

A picture of the box would be great! I didn't know Felpro made bad stuff.

What's the difference between my mine & yours other than cost?

Tom

[59toaster]

[homer voice]
Doohhhhhh!
[/homervocie]

I completly forgot. I actually was tinkering around in the garage and that gasket was in the way of something I was grabbing off the shelf. Said to myself "I need to get a picture of that" and then forgot again.

45 minutes till I can go home. I'll see if I can keep my head screwed on and remember this time LOL.


This is made like a headgasket. It has stainless steel fire rings around the opening.
Fled pro don't make much bad but Chevy maniflds are prone to warping and they made a better then average gasket to help deal with a slightly tweeked manifold.

I tell you I am conviced I cracked one of the factory. I just saw a picture of a Headman ceramic coated 454 header and it looks inviiting. That and the mandral bent system this guy is making in Alabama with a X pipe...DELUXE. Alos saw a set of Tri Y's another company makes that also look awsome.

[59toaster]

http://www.stans-headers.com/tri_y.htm
That's the other place and they have a P30 listing.

[59toaster]

Here is the other Feldpro gasket. Notice it has stainless steel fire rings. part number is on the box there.
Sorry the batteries were dead on the Digital Had to charge them.