VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1948 Fleetmaster manifold bolts 216 motor

The forward and aft most manifold bolt locations (exhaust manifold end bolts) each had a stud approx 7/8" installed which is too short to protrude past the manifold to install a nut.
These were not broken off bolts. These 2 manifold hole locations also intersect with the head bolt. This unclamped bolt location looks to me like an exhaust leak waiting to happen. Comparing photos of 216 engines found online, some have a bolt installed at the exhaust end locations, others did not. Since the stud installation appeared to be intentional, is there a concern of cracking the exhaust manifold if the end holes are bolted and torqued down ?
Kevin

They were factory installed guides and no nuts were necessary.

Kevin, We have 4 Chevy's with 216 motors, I have had exhaust leaks but never on either end usually # 3 and 4 ports, I'm guessing due to heat not being able to be released.

I've often thought the same as you that the ends of the manifold would be a place for leakage, but since 1971 to now I've never had that problem.

Wayne

I agree with what is said above. Both of my 216 engines have threaded stud bolts on the end of the manifolds but I never put nuts on them and have never blown the end gaskets but I have blown them on the "in board" ports. I just replaced the gaskets on both engines. I had the manifolds machined so the gasket surfaces were flat, they were both off pretty bad. No wonder the gaskets failed.

At one time there were studs with nuts at the ends of the exhaust manifold on 216's. That is the set-up on my '37.

Somewhere along the way Chevy changed those to guide pins. The '51 216 in my friends 3100 has the pins only.

Thanks for the feedback.
Kevin