Ok. I know its not recommended, but im wondering what kind of damage (if any) i could do cranking it up with no headers on...I know on a piston motor you can crack valves due to the excessive heat leaving and the cold air meeting simultaneously, is it the same with my apex seals? other than being really loud, and not so recommended, what harm could happen? just curious, ive got one exhaust stud that i cant get out of the housing (replacing them due to the not so awesome jackass that had it before me...bent two exhaust studs-???) and am getting it towed up the street to a shop so they can weld the nut onto the stud and then break the stud loose....but i cant get the headers on with the stud still on, and i need to know wether i should even go to all that trouble if the motor isnt good... Did that make any sense to anyone?? please help....

 

You're not going to damage the motor. I wouldn't recommend trying it if it's still in the car, though, for obvious reasons.

 

yea i dont wanna cook anything....but good to know, that it wont hurt the motor. thanks

 

Wear ear plugs watch for flames.

 

So you have a problem with the studs? I think I had a similar problem. One of the nuts broke on the stud and kept spinning when I tried to remove it. Just remove and replace the studs... No need to go to a shop. Autozone should have the same kind of metric studs you need.

 

i actually went the extra mile and got the studs from mazda, but the problem is the stud is bent and i cant get it out- i can thread a nut on to about the full depth of the nut (does that make sense?) and then i cant go any further- the problem is i cant get the headers or any exhaust manifold for that matter on with three straight studs and one bent one- it just doesnt happen. ///( is what im workin with ha....just for a visual reference....

 

ha yea ear plugs are a must. drove the last one i had up to the exhaust shop open headers, and wore ear plugs from work- the looks were awesome...but much appreciated trochoid and Bren85! in case anyone in the metro atlanta area reads this and has got a welder....please help, it would take all of three minutes and i would pay you for your time- not just the three minutes ha but the drive, hassle etc...

 

If you could get two nuts on the stud, you could get it out yourself. Is there any possibility of straightening it enough to get two nuts on? It wouldn't hurt to at least try to straighten it out if you're just going to weld it and pull it out any way.

 

I just took off my muffler to see how bad it was...the looks I got on the way to practice and when I got there...damn. My mom was maaad when I fired the car up in the driveway, especially since it echoed between the two houses.

 

Just get a pair of big vise grips on that stud and clamp them really tight. So tight you absolutely mangle the threads. It'll ruin the stud, but it'll probably come out.

 

step 1.....go to Sears...step 2...buy an Easy Out...step 3... Remove bent stud... and you're all done... I've done this on many occasions and a nice set of easy outs will pay for themselves in lack of frustration i no time at all....

 

For the Bent Stud.Put on a Deep socket that will go all the Way over the stud,then use your Rachet Like a pry bar to Bend the stud..It May work(not guaranteed),But worth a shot.(visually).But as mentioned,IF you put on a Good set of Vicegrips on the stud,It will come out.The Stud Will not break because it is steel.the Aluminum will Let the stud go before the Stud breaks...and To find out If your Engine is "any good",Why not do a compression Test? ( www.rotaryresurrection.com Hit Tech,you should find the Section on Compression testing with a regular Piston engine tester)..good luck.

 

And damaging the housing would be a good thing?

By the way. We have a archived thread on compression testing

Just spray the stud down with PB blaster or other good penetrating oil. Then as others stated use vice grips(getting as close to the bottom of the stud as possible). Do not risk breaking the stud though. It's better if you feel you might break it to take it to the muffler shop and let them extract it.