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I've not had problems with my Shovel pipes ... I had a buddy who welded up a boss for an additional bolt and reworked the flange on his ... It was a pretty slick repair
you would have thought hd would have done that in the first place
Redo the helicoil and put a stud in bottomed out, not a bolt.
I have in the past with a hashed helicoil job just retapped oversize and used what's called a step stud. Don't know if they are still available but works like charm if a weld and rework isn't in the picture.
Redo the helicoil and put a stud in bottomed out, not a bolt.
I have in the past with a hashed helicoil job just retapped oversize and used what's called a step stud. Don't know if they are still available but works like charm if a weld and rework isn't in the picture.
Very good Idea... If the helicoil has Not completely destroyed the "hole"...
I have used the Step Stud in the past ...In Various situations... Great Plan...
Very good Idea... If the helicoil has Not completely destroyed the "hole"...
I have used the Step Stud in the past ...In Various situations... Great Plan...
Will try re-doing the helicoil and using a stud. Should I use a dab of red loctite on the helicoil when installing into the head this time?
If that doesn't work I will try a step stud. What thread size do you recommend for going into the head when using a step stud? Should I be using red loctite on the step stud (where it goes into the head)?
Here is the Big Sert kit which I can also use but I will try redoing a helicoil first, followed by a step stud if that doesn't work. Both seem less invasive and less work than using a Big Sert:
Here is what I am dealing with. You can faintly see part of the heli coil exposed. It is slowly pulling out. Periodically.... i have to tighten up the Stage 8 bolt because the heli coil has slowly pulled itself out causing exhaust leaks. It aint the bolt that is loosening up (it cant due to the Stage 8 design) but the heli coil. Nice and tight cold, engine heats up and the helicoil gets loose. Most likely I will have to go with the step stud....
Last edited by garystaven88; Oct 1, 2022 at 11:32 AM.
Very good Idea... If the helicoil has Not completely destroyed the "hole"...
I have used the Step Stud in the past ...In Various situations... Great Plan...
I use the stubs in conjunction with surplus aircraft grade 6 or 12 point flanged nuts, silver plated stainless. That and a bit of Permatex ultra gray all my shovel exhaust port stupid has gone away..
Love these flange nuts, use a 3/8" wrench, zero clearance problems with them and they do not back off like regular hardware. Ebay or some online surplus hardware places or a local aircraft surplus yard you find around small airports.
I use the stubs in conjunction with surplus aircraft grade 6 or 12 point flanged nuts, silver plated stainless. That and a bit of Permatex ultra gray all my shovel exhaust port stupid has gone away..
Love these flange nuts, use a 3/8" wrench, zero clearance problems with them and they do not back off like regular hardware. Ebay or some online surplus hardware places or a local aircraft surplus yard you find around small airports.
Got some...
As ya say... they work great!!
One Caveat!!! Many aftermarket pipes fit like a bikini on a Fat girl...I endeavor to source O.E. Pipes... Not necessarily Mufflers... But Pipes.. but then... I believe in the Crossover... even more if it was closer to the Port!!!
Im hoping this stud fix it my last. Less stress in the head threads too. My biggest ongoing issue with my mild stroker is the exhaust bolts backing out. It has a lot of power / pressure pulsing so its way more problematic than my last shovel. The backing off has been directly related to how much throttle - juice Im using. My front is getting blow by and isnt really squared up - pipe flange to head port, even when it hasnt seemed to back off. So here comes the stud This is working. Fortunately the head threads are good - stock. I had to go to this when the $42 lock kit kept having off. The rear was the worst offender. Do far good. This shovel has way more power than my last. Replacing this with the stud set up. I already lost the rear. Blew away on my way to the AMCA meet 7/31. Same front, to be replaced with the stud setup like my rear. This got me home when I lost the rear lock kit on that Sunday. Found an open hardware store in a small town. I Keep a couple in my kit.
Before I went to the studs & aircraft nuts I had one set of heads on the shovel that would not keep an exhaust bolt, one or the other was always a problem and I tried all the gimmick fixes back then. I ended up drilling the bolt heads and safety wiring them, run it through the bolts & a couple wrap's around the pipes.
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