Soo my exhaust manifold studs are just turning more or less freely. Apart from one which snapped off a while ago. It's blowing badly now, funny that!

Will it be possible for me to re-tap these holes to the next size up? Or is it a heli-coil job.

The reason I ask is because I'm happy with a tap and dye but never done a heli-coil so it'll have to go to the garage for that, probably. Although there's a first time for everything I guess.

If you can get the studs out you can retap them to m8.

Fantastic, thanks.

I wonder if that's been done before though, about ten years ago it went to the garage with a similar problem. I guess I'll find out.

If the nuts on them were 11mm it was the standard m7, if they were 13mm they're m8.

Yeah they are 11mm so that's all good. Thanks.

Be aware that bringing them to M8 you have very little/no space between 13mm nut and exhaust manifault.....

Thanks, good point. Maybe I'll do my first heli-coil then. It seems easy actually.

Have to remove one stud first which is snapped flush. Oddly not much of a blow on that side, it's the other that's gone fully tractor-ised.

Try to weld a bolt to the stud, even what is left over of it, the heat will loosen it, so if you have half a decent weld you can loosen it..

or take a big nut M16 or so and weld the stud to it, try to release it then..... heat will do the trick.....

Nothing to loose there you can always drill it out if it doesn't work....

That sounds very satisfying, I don't weld though so I'll have to try an easy-out.

use a 25mm M8 "allen head" cap screw.