Exhaust Manifold Bolt broke

[Deathwish99]

Well the title says it all I broke off a bolt into the front head (bolt that goes into front exhaust mani). I had a shop get it out for cheap and didn't have to pull the head. However here is the reason why I'm scared to do headers myself now.

My comp G has 60k miles on it. I went to put in my plog. Everything was going great, I cleaned off all bolts and used an air compressor to blow out any debris in the head holes. Just as I finished installing the plog and was on my final bolt, i was 3/4 way in with final bolt and it decided to just snap. There was a bit of resistance but I thought it was nothing until it finally snapped clean off in the head.

My question is:

What can I do to avoid this next time when I install headers and should I be using some sort of lube on these bolts (or is there something I am doing wrong)?

[minichopper6hp]

Did you chase the heads with a tap? Maybe there is some rust in there? Idk, guess you could put some anti seize on the bolts but ive never had a problem with it, that is weird. You must live up north.

[Deathwish99]

Did you chase the heads with a tap? Maybe there is some rust in there? Idk, guess you could put some anti seize on the bolts but ive never had a problem with it, that is weird. You must live up north.

Did not use a tap, and I am thinking I will def use antiseize next time. Also yes I do live up north, was in Minnesota for a bit, and now Iowa

[speedemongtp]

make sure your using the right bolts!

[Bio248]

i swear i have never broke a head stud or bolt, how do you guys do that? i had my headers on and off my car more times than id like to count.

[TheOtherNick]

Anti seize will not help them go in. You had to have hard something in the whole or cross threaded the bolt. Mine came out and went back in easily at 150k.

[Spartan GL]

I broke one when i was doing mine.

I supposed 12 Years of Rust, 60K miles in Ohio and the High heat from the Exhaust Weakens a bolt.

>.<

[kfish]

mine has had 140k of ohio weather and mine buzzed right out. you had to have cross threaded it.

[blueguy]

Or turned it righty tighty and snapped it off.

I could see that.

[PNIGZ]

use a tap and check the threads on the bolts to make sure every thing is good

[99prixgt]

I broke one off, tightening and i never got it out.

[NaturallySmashed]

I broke one off, tightening and i never got it out.

nice

[Poil336]

mine has had 140k of ohio weather and mine buzzed right out. you had to have cross threaded it.

that ohio weather lol. 15 years and 190,000 was enough to freeze the O2 sensor into the pipe on my s-10. and i went to take the factory step rails off, because i could never figure out why there were step rails on a 2wd s-10, and i broke every bolt. one of the rails had actually rusted away from around one of the bolts, so i just left that one in