So tearing into my truck this weekend and I knew of one header bolt was broken but when I started to take the rest of the bolts out two others were broken as well. Now my only problem is that one is the last bolt on the drivers side another in the far back on the passenger side and the last is the very front on drivers side. All very fun to deal with. My only problem is I gotta have this truck on the road ASAP. I'm wondering if I can install the headers without these bolts or will they warp the flanges? Any help please?!

The trucks a 2000 silverado with the 5.3L in it

 

It shouldn't hurt you headers but they may leak..use some orange rtv on it front n back

 

Yeah I think I'm gunna have to try that and maybe get some heads down the line and build them up for a new motor or something later as well. Not likeing this whole header bolts breaking thing

 

Being front and back, I can almost guarantee you will leak. I broke one on each side at the back, used high-temp rtv and went on with my day. No leak so far...

 

too late now, but i always spray some penetrating oil on the bolts the day/night before and let the engine run for a couple minutes before attempting to remove the bolts. ive never broken a single header bolt doing this

 

doesn't always work, I did that for 4 days, started truck, heated it up, sprayed again...yatta yatta yatta. Gotta pay to play! oh yeah, 70k miles!

 

Had that on mine, it leaked. Solution was to pull the head.

 

appears to be a hit or miss wether they will leak or not, I had one on the back on the passenger side broke off flush and no matter what I did I couldnt get it out, threw my headers on anyway and it never leaked

 

The bolts didn't break when I was loosening them. I went to put the socket on two o them and they fell right out. Third one has been broken for god knows how long. I put the silicone on for now. Hopefully they won't leak too bad.

Anyone know if a set of used 862 heads are expensive? And also maybe mild upgrades for them?

 

Look for a set of 799/243's if you are gonna swap a set out. But to answer your question, the 862's are pretty cheap