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View Full Version : exhaust manifold bolt or new header?


johnMZ24
05-13-2015, 01:09 PM
I have a small manifold gasket leak. Im going to replace the gaskets and i was wondering what an easy way to get them out. Imma wire wheel the ends and spray pb blaster for a couple days b4 hand. When i take them out should i have car cold or warmed up? Also instead of replacing the gaskets would it be worth it to put equal length headers on? My cars stock but if i got that id get a highflow cat n call it a day.
Wiscon_Mark
05-13-2015, 01:21 PM
I would much rather have it cold or at least lukewarm while I'm working in that area. Also, the exhaust manifold on most Subarus (hard to say with you because you haven't given us any vehicle info) use studs rather than bolts. The gaskets are a one-piece material, so they should scrape off pretty easily. New gaskets could certainly help, if the leak is coming from the space between the headers & manifold. It could also just be a loose nut.

If you're planning on doing the whole exhaust system (so, cats, and catback) then it could be very beneficial to do equal length. there isn't much out there for dual port heads, so unless you have single port heads, you're going to have to go unequal length.
johnMZ24
05-13-2015, 09:16 PM
Sorry, 01 legacy gt 5 speed. I have new midpipe and oem muffler. Ill give it a try cold n see how it goes
Wiscon_Mark
05-13-2015, 11:21 PM
It shouldn't be too bad up there. The only seizing issues I ever had were nuts seizing to the studs. Sometimes tightening a little bit and then loosening will break those loose.
johnMZ24
05-21-2015, 07:22 PM
Ok so i did my gaskets today, well atempted to...i got all studs out except one because it was gettin real hard to turn at the end and didnt wana strip it so i juss put them back up on the one side( no leak) the one that was leakin i replaced gasket and still has a leak in the same spot. Would that mean the inside of the pipe that bolts up to the head is maybe bad? Like bent or something isnt holding up? I jusy dont wana snap the one stud on the other side. Im going to get a jukkyard one and clean it up nice and put that one on to see if itll make a difference.