Re: alfa-digest V7 #955 - Exhaust System Bolts

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

    Grade eight bolts are way over kill for exhaust.  I just use the cheapest 
hardware store 8 mm bolts with double nuts.  The double nuts are the trick 
for keeping them tight and in place.  If you tear them up or round he corners 
taking them off later, well they were cheap so replace them.
      And in the worst case, just fire up the hot blue wrench to remove them. 
 Actually, do not cut them, just get everything red hot and unscrew them.  
With slip joint exhausts like on the Alfetta, that may be the only way to get 
things apart.
    Brass or bronze nuts are great for exhaust as they will not rust to the 
bolt.  That is why they are used to hold the manifold to the engine block.  
However, they cost more and are softer than steel.  Use them if you want, but 
consider double nutting them so the exhaust stays in place.
    So are you saying that one of my mail order places, which I guess is your 
local parts supplier is out of certain parts.  I guess we are both talking 
about IAP.  That happens to everyone sometimes.  Silicone and bailing wire 
will get you on the road, but lacks something in the trickness area.
Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City



In a message dated 08/10/1999 9:56:45 PM Central Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

<< 
 Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 17:22:13 -0400 (EDT)
 From: Fred Schwab <fschwab@domain.elided>
 Subject: Exhaust System Bolts 
 
     What's a good type of bolt and nut to use on an exhaust system
 (mufflers, specifically) if you want to have some realistic expectation of
 unscrewing the bolt at some later date, after rust has set in?  Stainless
 steel perhaps?  Or is it good to use low-grade steel that would be easy to
 shear off or chisel off after it's rusted.  I've already got some 8-mm
 grade eight bolts (medium carbon, alloy steel, quenched and tempered) plus
 bronze nuts, but was wondering if something else would be a better choice.
 
      You must be wondering why I have time to think about something so
 mundane.  The reason I have time to think about this is that I've already
 torn off the old mufflers, center and rear, from my Alfa Spider and
 purchased two new ones from the local Alfa parts supplier - who, alas,
 didn't have the 3-hole flange gasket (or new rubber hangers, either) in
 stock.  So now I'm waiting on a mail-order shipment of the other items
 from another source.
 
                                   Fred Schwab (fschwab@domain.elided)
                                   Charlottesville, VA
  >>

------------------------------