nh7cy

So I was driving to the city the other day going up a pretty steep grade when I casually looked at the passenger side rear view mirror and realized the car was filled with foul smelling white smoke.

Checked the engine compartment when I got home, looks like I have some sort of an exhaust leak coming from the header area.

So how does one remove the header without having to remove the whole head? Last time I had the header off, the head was already off of the car. It was easier to just pull the whole thing as there wasn't enough room to pull it while everything was still on the car.

Is there some trick to this? Like, rotating the car 45 degrees and having a witch doctor pouring ground up palm fronds all over the engine or is it just impossible..

David Floyd

Remove the exhaust studs

Airflite40

fixed it for you

but seriously, good luck Jason cuz I HATE exhaust leaks

nh7cy

I thought those were held in with red loctite? Okay saw the edit. Haha. Damnit, if I knew how long it would be before I upgrade to a new engine, I would just weld the stupid thing on.

David Floyd

No need for Loctite, hopefully yours were not installed with it.

apierce918

i had 3 studs come out when just trying to remove the nuts, other 5 just used the double nut method

V2Rocket

Why doesn't someone just pull their exhaust studs and replace them with a bolt that goes in from header side? It'd be easier to work with..

billthe3

You have to lift the motor up a couple of inches to get enough clearance to pull the headers without pulling the head. I would have to say that even though it has to be a pita, its definitely easier than pulling the head.

87944turbo

This sounds like oil and/or coolant getting onto your headers or exhaust. Was your exhaust leak audible? Would also check to make sure all the nuts on the header are nice and tight before taking anything apart.

nh7cy

Day off is on Thursday, thats the next time I'll be able to do anything on the car. Going to make sure everything is good and tight. Exhaust leak isn't too audible save for a slight hiss coming from around the header area. The smoke didn't smell a whole lot like burnt oil or coolant, just a whole lot of butt.

Thanks for the advice!

billthe3

Don't let the neighborhood cats poo on your exhaust.