Amazingly enuf the right side ex mani is off & not one broken bolt ! Thanks also to my Bro who does all the down low work for the guy with the bad neck & back. Thanks.. Probably an omen to say no broken bolt b4 I do the left side . I listened to everyone on the forum & the tips all worked. Sprayed & let sit, tightened before loosening, did the back & forth thing, took our time etc, for the harder ones we broke out the torch, being a Plumber we kinda have them laying around. LOL.. Now im a bit confused, i read on another thread that Joe.P actually has never used a gasket in his life on Olds exh manifolds ? My mani's are lumpy, bumpy, rusty & just a mess. No cracks chips or breaks though. I would imagine that I have to get this & the head surface laser straight & flat.(. Ill prob still use gaskets ). What is the best approach to cleaning these surfaces up as it dont appear that a scrapper, razor etc will get these mani's to the point I need them. ... All input is appreciated.. OPh yeah also, how do I post a pic in a thread ? I have pics of the job im doing & cant figure out how to do it.. Thanx, Ace

 

They don't require gaskets, so were yours leaking?

 

Yes they were & they had or should I say have gaskets on them now. When I say baked on I mean baked on..After a little more research Im thinking my best bet is to find a machine shop here in town & have them resurfaced ? They are far from flat by anybodies imagination. No cracks anywhere but the surface is chunky with old material, a wire wheel just wont cut it...Thanx

 

You can get them surfaced at a machine shop, but if the heads are also nasty, they shouuld also be surfaced on the exhaust sides. If the heads aren't bad, you can also replace the manifolds. I have a decent, desert southwest 1967 pair. If resurfacing, don't take off more than necessary or the manifolds may hit the block and not seal. Use new grade 5 or 8 bolts and anti seize on the threads.

 

10-4 Run i agree 100%.... New bolts & anti seize are for sure. Ill seee if the machinist says that it will take too much to get a good surface & if so I guess ill look u up to buy a pair.. Does your set have the cross over already blocked off ? Was your set your speaking of resurfaced or just in great condition ? Thanx, Ace

 

Then I guess gaskets would be the way to go. I would assume any manifold gasket will work.

 

The factory never used gaskets on the cast-iron manifolds, but again the heads and manifolds were machined flat at the time. It certainly doesn't hurt anything to use gaskets with manifolds if there's any question about the quality of the sealing surface.

 

Ace, the manifolds I have are for a single exhaust car so you would have to get the block off plate. They have never been messed with, still in the car although the engine has been pulled. The car was a 330 automatic 67 Cutlass.

 

Thanks Joe, I think what ill do is have the resurface job done & see how they look at that time. I got the head side clean, smooth & flat right now. I appreciate everyones input & help as always.