Okay I did longtubes on my truck recently. When I went to take off the stock exhaust manifolds the front and rearmost header bolts on both sides were broken off in the head. I tried everything, and couldn't get a single one of them out. I gave the truck to my buddy who has a shop for a few days and he couldn't get any of them out either as they are all broken off very far into the head. I didn't have access to a welder and thought he might be able to use that to get them out. No such luck. So now I have a nasty tick in my exhaust and I don't know what to do. I am almost done with school for this sememster so I will have plenty of free time (3 weeks) over X-mas break. It looks like I am going to have to pull the heads off the truck to get the bolts out. I will be doing it myself b/c I cant afford to drop 1000 bucks on having someone do it.

Anyone have any suggestions? I was gonna maybe get a cam for X-mas but if I have to spend a lot of money on this problem then the cam will be on hold.

 

i hate to say it but your gonna have to pull the heads to get it out, you need to pull the heads, drill out the bolt and retap the hole larger to use a bigger bolt

 

Yup thats what is sounds like or save a lil time, find a set of used heads, might be better to drop a lil cake to save ya a lot of time. Good luck.

John

 

This is really the time when I should be thinking about spending the extra cash now to get some good heads. I have a 99 LQ4 with iron heads. Lets say I spent 1400 bucks and got WCCH stage 2 aluminum cylinder heads. How much would that benefit my truck once I got my cam? Remember its only a mild cam, 212/218 with 114LSA.

Should I get some used aluminum heads and just have them ported and polished? Is that even worth the money?

If I get the stage 2 heads will it effect my compression ratio?

 

I've got a set of mint 317 casting heads I can sell you

 

Sounds like a deal, have them worked a lil and ya be good to go.

John

 

why not just easy out it?

just a thought.
but if you were thinking about heads anyways, pick up a set of 317s bare if you are having them worked over anyways.
or
you can do like i did and pick up a set of 243s off of ebay.
i got mine from an 07 with 3k off of an LS2 vette with LS6 Yellow springs.

you can get 317s for cheap everywhere.

 

some 243's i think would be your best route

 

Mine are cheaper than 243's

 

I'm interested, PM sent.