JRad405

My mechanic thinks that my bolts are too rusted and he's saying I shouldn't do the headers. Has anyone ever had an issue with the installation new ones?

I bought the headers, I just don't want to have them sitting around for 4 years for a header or engine swap.

69MustangCoupe393cid

Went through this with my F-150. Pull the manifolds, drill out any studs that are to rusted to remove from the head otherwise, replace with stainless steel studs, install headers, pay large bill. Now on the 150 I didn't have to pull the engine, the mustang is pretty tight and might be a lot more money to have done.

WannaBeGearHead

When I installed my headers the bolts were covered in rust but I was still able to get them off. I have a hard time believing he can't do the install.

MU71L4710N

sounds to me he is either unsure of his abilities, has had this problem with people before and doesnt want to open a can of worms and be held responsible for a snapped header bolt, or hes just bieng lazy and doesnt want to install them.

get another opinion from another shop. and if they are that rusted, i would ask them what your consequences are if they snap a header bolt. is this out of your pocket, will they fix it free, if not how much will it cost, etc...

TheNameless

might be trying to fork more money out of you. I had a similar situation i went to a ford dealer to have my mid pipe put on and 20 min after i drop it off i get a call sayin they cant get the bolts off and if he tries it will crck the heads and if i told him to go on with it it would cost more money for new bolts and they seemed "too scared to remove the bolts".......my ***, they just wanted more money and like said above they didnt feel like doin it. End of story went home right after that and did the damn midpipe my self no strip bolts cracked head or anything it went on like a glove.

JRad405

i think he just doesn't want to do it since if he has to drill the bolts out its just a lot of added work. from talking to him hes just at the point where he wants things to be more straight forward i suppose.

i guess ill find a different shop and see what they say. its gonna cost a bunch i figured anyway. i just have mid length headers so i need custom piping done, which is why i wanted my mechanic to do it as he does custom exhuast work.

WannaBeGearHead

Why do you need custom exhaust done? You know they sell headers for our cars, right? Meaning you wouldn't need custom work done.

MU71L4710N

bassanni makes a midpipe for mid length headers since they make mid length headers. it will probably cost the same to buy a midpipe to fit vs have some shop fab something up.

uberstang1

The mechanic is a tard plain and simple. The only part of the studs that are rusted are the parts that are outside of the head. When you take them off some of the studs will even just come out with the nut if the nut is rusted to the stud. Once the stud turns the rest of the stud that is inside the head will look brank new. The studs are steel and the heads are aluminum they can't rust together........................................ The last set of headers I did for a member on here, his studs didnt even look like they have threads, they backed right out 1,2,3.

uberstang1

Also if you want to replace the studs, the ones that dont come out with the nut just spray em with penatrating fluid and the end of the stud is squared shaped and you can put a 1/4 inch drive 4mm socket on it and back it right out, the exposed part of the stud is rusted but I gurantee that anything past that will look brand new when it comes out of the aluminum head.