Hey Guys,
I dont know how many of you are using the SLP shorties headers but after 4 years I am having some issues. The header on the passenger side always come loose and of course what follows is a nasty exhaust leak. I HATE EXHAUST LEAKS. I became gun-ho and decided I was going to tighten them. HAHAHAHAHA- I notice that on the two middle bolts on the passenger side backed ALL the way out. DAMN. I could only reach one bolt, but the other I could not reach. I called one shop and they want $1600 to fix this issue and put special bolts that do not back out . A major issue on that side of the engine block. They said they are going to have to lift the motor to do this. There is no way I could see getting a wrench down there to tighten the damn thing. Have any of you ran into this problem and if so what was the out come?

 

I have a couple of threads floating around about "Stock head bolts in headers.".

What kind of bolts? I used the stockers on my SLP LT's and they seemed to snug in after periodic checks/tightening (twice) w/in about 1000 miles. They've been in for 2.5 years now. I haven't checked them since early 06 or late 05. Maybe I ought to check them, for S&G's.

FWIW, I did NOT use locktite, on the advice of my uncle.

 

I have SLP shorties, and yes I do have 1 bolt that comes out once and a while....luckily it's the easiest bolt...1st one on driver side.

Try a different shop...$1600 is outrageous. It cost me around $400 to have my headers installed, and that's taking a bunch of stuff off just to get the stock manifolds, install new shorties, and put it all back. Shop is trying to rape you..run, and run fast.

No, you don't need to lift the engine to tighter bolts on SLP shorties...even the hard to get ones. When my shop installed mine...yeah, it was a pain, but no engine lifting or dropping.

They do make Breslin bolts and stage 8 headers bolts that will keep these bolts secure. I'm using the ones that came with the SLP headers...have 12point head. I hear Breslin bolts work well, but they're kinda pricey.

Anyway you choose...go find another shop, but good idea to use "locking" header bolts. Yeah, I agree with Bayer-Z28 not to use loctite.

 

That price is outrageous. Pick up a set of locking header bolts, they will run about 50 bucks. They are not very hard to install, you may not be able to access them from the top, but from the bottom they shouldn't be a problem.

 

Hey guys,
I appreciate the advice. No that shop is not getting the job, I find another one.

I have tried loctite RED and it dont work. I have already tried on the one i could reach. The bolts I am having trouble are the ones on the passenger side (the second and third set closet to the window). I cant reach them. Do any of you have any tricks to getting to these?

If all else fails I try the shop that put them in if they are still in business.

 

How are you accessing them, from the top or bottom?

 

I tried to access from both the top and bottom. From the bottom my hand can access the last bolt next to the window and thats it. To many other things in the way to access anything else. I also tried from the top. It looks like if I take off the altanator then the valve cover, I might be able to get at the other bolts. I would hate to do all that work and find it can not be done from the top.

 

Removing the alternator should help alot. I remove the alternator just to change the #2 spark plug each time.