stratoblues

1957 371 cu in 4 barrel exhaust manifold to head, what does your 57 have?

bolts or studs?




thanks gerry

Charlie Jones

Looks like studs.

stratoblues

Thanks Charlie thats the pic from the "Motor" manual I believe and it says "typical". I don;t believe that pic is specific to the 57.

Olds Dad

I recently disassembled a set of '57 371 heads for machine work and they had studs and appeared to be OE...FWIW

stratoblues

Did it have studs in the center two holes or just the ends? I believe mine had bolts in the center but dont know if it was oe. and now that I have a leak in the center maybe I was mistaken about the bolts

Thank You

Tedd Thompson

On a 324(maybe the same may not on a 371) the center holes are bolts and on ether end are studs, which by the way go into the water jacket and often are rusted tight and brake flush with the head if you are not careful when removing them....Tedd

Tedd Thompson

Oops double post

stratoblues

Tedd thats how mine were when I disassembled them. But after putting them back on I have a coolant leak that seems to be coming from the lower center bolt. I thought maybe the center had studs too which went into the water jacket. I put thread sealant on the studs when i put them in on the ends. I am afraid I might have a head gasket leak. checked the oil and " no water in the oil".

Tedd Thompson

I don't remember the center bolts ever leaking when removed and the last time I pulled the manifold on my car the center bolts came out first and nothing leaked. when the end bolts finally were removed(the one nearest the firewall) I started a waterfall. I had forgot to drain the block first. So unless the center holes were plugged I don't think they go all the way through to the water jacket. This is all on my 55, 57 may be different....Tedd

stratoblues

This is my first olds always was a chevy guy. I only started second guessing myself when I noticed the leak.I will pull the center bolts out and if thats where the leak is coming from it will start draining if not it must be a head gasket leak.

Thanks again
Gerry