Thread: Exhaust donuts
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Old 06-24-2008, 04:48 PM   #1 (permalink)
joe_padavano
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Location: Northern VA
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Exhaust donuts

I'll admit that I haven't worked on many 307s, but I was surprised to find that my 84 Custom Cruiser uses an exhaust donut on the RH manifold where the main down pipe exits. I knew the tubular manifold on the 86 307 used a donut, but I chalked that up to the fact that Olds couldn't cast a tapered seat into that thin sheet metal flange. The other side on that motor does have the tapered seat cast into the EFE valve housing.

Anyway, I had always assumed that the Olds cast iron manifolds never used donuts, which once again proves what happens when you assume...

This, by the way, was the source of my exhaust leak. The donut had completely disintegrated, leaving only the steel ring that fits into the manifold. The good news is that all three bolts came out of the flange. The secret there is to use an impact wrench and to hammer the next smallest socket over the rusted bolt head. Lots of anti-seize on the reinstallation.
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Joe Padavano

64 Jetstar 88 Conv
66 442 L-69 Conv
68 W-30
69 H/O
69 442
70 W-30
72 442
84 Custom Cruiser
86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)
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