Any pointers or advice on what I can do to best prepare to help lessen the chances of broken bolts in the heads? I have full shop capability with impacts, etc.

Appreciate any feedback from someone who's done this successfully. Trying to avoid at all costs the dreaded broken bolt in the head.

Thanks! V1

 

PB Blaster!!! Lots of it.

 

I concur, Lots of good penetrating fluid will help.

Also, running a wire brush over the bolts and manifold and then spraying them down will help loosen them all up.

Just be patient, if one isn't coming out, just spray it down some more and move onto another. After a while, you will probably be left with one or two still hanging in there, but the manifold should be loose enough to wiggle around a little and help get the penetrating oil to the threads in the heads.

 

Oh and put anti seize on the threads when you reinstall.

 

Spray all the bolts down over night with PB blaster while the motor is cool and then drive around the next day to get the motor up to temp. Do this over the course of a couple days and the bolts should come right out. I had close to 200K in my motor when I installed headers and the factory bolts came out with a 1/4" ratchet.

 

^ exactly what I did. Except I had one already broke off before hand and welded a nut to the end of it and it backed right on out. Don't torque on em to fast though. Kind of ease them out

 

Agree on the cycling of penetrant oil and heat up and cool down ! (NOT WD40) Leave the impact tools in the tool box. Use hand tools and use gradual torque to loosen. PB Blaster is my choice as well.

 

Appreciate the suggestions. I believe in PB Blaster to as well as thermal cycling and capilary action. Wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything. Once the mans come off, the heads are off to the shop for cleanup, valve job, seals and my springs. Dikdn't want to have to muss with any broken bolts if I didn't have to.
Thanks.

 

If the heads are coming off anyway, don't be afraid of any busted bolts.

The only reason it is a pain in the *** to most is that the head would have to come off to fix it properly. I'd still be cautious to save yourself some trouble, but I wouldn't worry if you are handing them over to a shop.