4carl

Just remove one LCA nut and check the size with a thread chaser. I'm sure its a standard size like 8mmx1.25ect

okie981

This...for the LCA nuts.

DrPhil Gandini

Thanks for this thread! Decided to check Fabspeed header bolts tonight and two were missing, another almost threaded out...I didn't install them, but have over 5000 miles on them, so have no idea when the bolts disappeared.
Will check the LCA bolts tomorrow, after putting some new header bolts in...

Crazy Eddie

I remember my buddy used a special lock nut on his 951 Cv joints
So I asked him
These http://www.stage8.com

Peter_GT4

Worried by this, I had to lift the GT4 immediately and check for myself:

Cargraphic sport headers after two weeks and 600 miles....nothing
came loose, I could retighten all bolts equally just a tiny little bit.
Will keep an eye on it anyway.

Peter

needmoregarage

My tech indexes everything so it should be easier to spot if something is coming loose (just a couple examples):

DrPhil Gandini

I will index the header bolts once I get them (not in stock at the dealer, but that's not surprising--the only parts they stock are floor mats, I think.)

okie981

Good practice for sure.

Jimmy-D

I do not know it this is isolated to Fabspeed. Has any one had the nuts fall off their stock unit

This thread is sounding weird

DrPhil Gandini

Why would it be isolated to Fabspeed headers? The recommended torque on the bolts is 17ft-lbs. That's slightly more than hand tight. Loctite is useless and the bolts don't have washers on them--they are installed dry, or some people use anti-seize.
I am going to wire the bolts, like old school racers.

Jimmy-D

^ I am not ioslating this to Fabspeed. You conveyed your nuts were loose and my Master Mechanic had loose nuts on another Fabspeed install. Hence, the reason he wants to check my nuts next week.

He did convey that most of these mods are not perfect fits and hence they take a little play to get them right.

I would never cast stones at a vendor- just trying to get to root cause

neanicu

Sorry Jimmy,I know your post is serious,but for some reason I'm on the floor laughing...

okie981

To those who have had non-OEM headers installed, what type of gasket is installed between the header flange and the cylinder head? I assume some type of gasket is used, but I've seen installs on some engines of different makes, stock exhaust manifolds included, that had no gasket at all. Being steel against aluminum and the different expansion rates, I would expect there to be some type of gasket used on these headers on the 9A1 engines.

My curiosity is toward how the answer to this question might influence the loosening header bolts several have reported.

orthojoe

Just checked all my nuts and bolts today. All tight. No loosening. I meant the exhaust manifold bolts, lca nuts, etc....

DrPhil Gandini

I understand Jimmy-D. It could be that reports of loose bolts (header bolts, not nuts) are proportional to the number of installs--hence we will see more Fabspeed reports since more Fabspeed headers have been installed. I really can't explain why three bolts loosened, but the two that were missing were the extreme end bolts, while the one that was very loose and almost gone was the middle one on the passenger side. The middle bolts are very hard to access with the FS headers due to the design, but the end bolts are totally exposed, so they must have been torqued properly on install.
I have a racer friend (cool story: he raced a 911 with a center seat and 962 engine!) who is willing to drill and safety wire the bolts for me once I get them all (hate to wait.) This could be overkill, but they certainly won't come loose. Of course, neither will my Porsche warranty...