Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Gaskets and pin bolts

Listening to the engine with stethoscope did not bring me new ideas where the clanking sound came from. So I decided to troubleshoot the easiest and cheapest things first. I took off the exhaust manifold (which by the way is one of the few parts that "Tom" - Destiny's owner from '96 to '06 - had replaced ).

 
The leakage can be seen in the opening of cylinder #5 and in the bigger opening of cylinders #3 and #4. The bolts hide behind the starter so it crucial to have them tightened well before installing the starter. Obviously I had missed this.

 

Obtained new Fel-Pro gasket from a local speed shop for € 8,60. I felt so lucky for them having the gasket in the shelf that I even forgot to claim 15% discount that they promise for members of FMOC .

 
This time I remembered to install the locking washers that I had purchased earlier from NPD. I paid special attention to tighten the manifold bolts little by little in cycles like you do when you tighten the cylinder head. But while torqueing the pin bolts which attach the exhaust pipe to manifold I broke the other one. Damn ! Where would I be able to find 7/16" bolt with course thread in one end and fine thread end in the other.

 
But thanks to internet I found this webshop. One business day later the bolts arrived in an envelope to my mail box. Total cost € 4,15 including VAT and postal costs. Cheap as soap. Installed exhaust pipe. Took a test drive. Destiny purrs like a kitten now.