Manifold Bolt

[thenubsterman]

I have a 97 f 250 with a 7.5L in it and it has a manifold leak on the passenger side because the back bolt has came out, a machinic told me that the bolt rusted off inside the head and that the head would have to come out in order to get the bolt out of the head and to tap and drill it i was wondering is that really it and is all the work needed?

[ModMech]

Well, it *might* be that bad. It is worth trying to drill the old one, and use an extractor on it, but if it truely is rusted tight, that might not work. You can, no matter what, drill, and re-tap but it's not exactly a quick fix but it's much faster than pulling the head etc.

[pind]

if you are going with the screw extractor method, find some paraffin wax, and use it as a lubricant. If you heat the part before you try the extractor, then apply the wax, it will flow into the heated part, and the threads, sometimes loosening it enough to make the difference. This is one of those cases where gravity doesn't exactly work, the wax wil flow uphill. good luck.

[precislawn]

Because the bolt is on the passanger side and in the back chances are there is not enough room to get a drill and extractor in there. Would be much easier to fix on the bench. If you can call drilling, extracting and retapping an easy process.

Sorry, looks like the machanic called it like it is on this one.

[pind]

try an angle drill, usually there is just enough room to work with them

[ModMech]

Oh! Exhaust manifold!!!!

In that case, yes the head has to come off.

[thenubsterman]

thanks for the help