Exhaust nut torque?

Hi guys,

Just did a search for this but came up with nada for the freenader. When I fitted my new exhaust manifold I followed the Haynes and tightened the nuts on the manifold/head and manifold/frontpipe to 33f/lb. However it sounds like something has started to blow from when I first drove it, so my first guess is that something has worked it's way slightly loose and is noisy. Probably the man/pipe joint as if it was the man/head joint it would be making more of a racket I expect.

So what torque would you guys reccomend? Seems that 33 may not be enough.

Cheers,

Will.

use holts fire gum if it has come loose on thread and tighten it up- acts like thread lock

fanatic said:

use holts fire gum if it has come loose on thread and tighten it up- acts like thread lock

Click to expand...

Cheers I may try that, is it easy to break the torque if this has been applied? Had enough seized bolts for a lifetime .

WLJayne said:

Cheers I may try that, is it easy to break the torque if this has been applied? Had enough seized bolts for a lifetime .

Click to expand...

I soak with lube to undo. You could also go to local fixing and fasteners place and get metal lock nuts

Also sometimes the bolt's or studs loose tensile strength and stretch.

fanatic said:

Also sometimes the bolt's or studs loose tensile strength and stretch.

Click to expand...

That's what I thought might have happened. Perhaps they'll settle down after a while and I just have to tighten them every now and then until they do. It'll be good to get rid of this blowing noise - nothing makes a car sound clapped out quite as much as that!

have you checked where the blow is comming from? Start it up and run your hands around it (careful not to burn yourself) are you sure the gasket is on properly? did you apply exhaust paste to the join lower down?

I followed the instructions in the Hayne's, but I can't rule out the manifold completely. Given that its a very audible ticking sound I'm inclined to think it's a small leak further down from there. I didn't use any paste between the manifold/head as it's bad for the cat apparently. I didn't use any between the front pipe/manifold either, should I have?

Will.

no not before the cat but i didnt know if you replaced the whole section exhaust or not. sorry not very clear.

Check manifold does not have hairline crack

fanatic said:

Check manifold does not have hairline crack

Click to expand...

Will do, bloody well shouldn't it's brand new!

If its a ticking type blow it's more likely to be the manifold to head seal as its only one cylinder that's blowing, or a crack in one of the branches! If its your standard exhaust blow noise it'll be after the branches join, ie the seal at the cat!