Exhaust Manifold Bolt Questions

[Lukas]

I have some broken exhaust manifold bolts and got a quote today on replacing them and machining the manifold. I was given a price between $500 - $700 and told it would be approximately 2 days work. I know it is a time consuming job, but does it sound right?

[R33S2]

I didnt need to machine the manifold, the bolts are in a hard place to get to but 4-5 hrs if nothing is too difficult

[predator]

That's an absolute rip off..

the studs are about $4 each from nissan.. and maybe 2-3 hours work..

So around $200-300 may be fair.

[Lukas]

That's an absolute rip off..

So I thought

[predator]

Well taking the manifold and turbo, etc may take a couple of hours, but the work on the studs should only take 2-3 hours.

Thinking about it, maybe towards $500 might be reasonable for like all of them and an "drive in drive out" job.. 2 days work isn't really true though. I've taken the manifold off a couple of times -- on and off in about 2 hours.

If you want to save the bulk of the money, take the manifold off yourself, and put it back - then get the guy to tap and thread them. It's probably recommended to get a new exhaust manifold gasket as well (about $120 from nissan).

[T04GTR]

the studs are 13.80 retail from nissan. and then theres the nuts. about the same.(same as sr20) the 500 dollar price comes from havint to remove the manifold ie r and r the turbo.

then drill and easy-out the studs. if there broken off. also if a few are broken youd be retarded not to repl;ace them all.

so that price is just realistic. two solid days is abit excesive. but 1 day is believable.

[mad082]

took pretty much a full day to get mine done. but i didn't have to pay anything cause i know the guy that owns the shop.

i had 2 broken studs, and they broke 2 more getting the old ones out. they have to take the turbo off and oll the other crap thats in the way.

[T04GTR]

That's an absolute rip off..

the studs are about $4 each from nissan.. and maybe 2-3 hours work..

So around $200-300 may be fair.

kiding yourself sory to say

[mad082]

anyone that thinks it will be an easy job should just go and try to take the heat sheild off the manifold and see how long that takes.

[T04GTR]

lol.

[85URK]

i thought i had a cracked manifold stud not long ago, turned out it was a simple fix me and another guy did at work in like 1/2 hour, it was just the turbo gasket was blown, so we just unbolted the turbo form the manifold slide it off slowly enough to becareful as to not damage the oil and waterline, then took the blown gakset out and replaced it with the new one, we didnt even have to remove the line off the turbo only the 4 bolts that attach it to the manifold, was quite easy.

[predator]

kiding yourself sory to say sad.gif

Um, I've done it a few times.. It's not a GTR.

the studs are 13.80 retail from nissan.

Well they cost me $2.31 retail - I have the receipt right in front of me.

[85URK]

Um, I've done it a few times.. It's not a GTR.

Well they cost me $2.31 retail - I have the receipt right in front of me.

is that through nissan themselves gordo??

just goes to show how much different dealerships mark stuff up.....

the hardest part about changing the studs is if u happen to snap it off inside the thread, then u are in big trouble bcoz u have nothing to hold onto to screw it out, and they are apparently very very tight.

[Lukas]

Well, I just got a couple more quotes and $500 - $600 seems to be fairly reasonable. It is not an easy job removing everything from the manifold etc... Then if any of the studs are stuck, it is a little tricky drilling them out. Machining of the manifold is about $100, studs are about $12 including nuts from Nissan and exhaust manifold gasket is $115 from Nissan. I've found no general mechanics want to do it, only exhaust centres, so it is obviously not the most enjoyable job to do.

[85URK]

Well, I just got a couple more quotes and $500 - $600 seems to be fairly reasonable. It is not an easy job removing everything from the manifold etc... Then if any of the studs are stuck, it is a little tricky drilling them out. Machining of the manifold is about $100, studs are about $12 including nuts from Nissan and exhaust manifold gasket is $115 from Nissan. I've found no general mechanics want to do it, only exhaust centres, so it is obviously not the most enjoyable job to do.

yeah i dont think ppl like doing it aye its one of those annoying jobs i guess.

[mad082]

all of mine broke off in the head, so it was a much harder job. if they break off with some of the stud poking out there is a tool that you put on the end of a socket to grip onto them to get them out. no drilling required.

[Lukas]

Besides Nissan, where else can I get the exhaust manifold gasket? I'm also going to get my rocker cover gasket replaced because it is leaking a little bit of oil. So anyone know a good source for the gaskets?

Edited October 23, 2006 by Lukas

[The Dan]

I can get you all the studs with nuts for $50 and the gasket for $50 if you like.

The R&R for the turbo and manifold is around 4 hours but then you have to factor in the broken studs, seized bolts, etc. etc. Add 1 hour for each broken stud just in case. Usually you'll get two if you're lucky.....6 if you're not. So say worst case scenario you have 6 broken studs and they all take an hour to remove - remember it's a murphy's world....it would cost you $77/hr X 6 hours + another $77 X 4....That comes to $770 + parts and given that it would be a 10 hour job I would like to have the car for two days just to be sure as well.

Sounds like they are just covering their arse, which is what any good workshop will do.

Best case scenario you only have 2 broken studs in which case it will only cost you around $460 + parts.

[Lukas]

I can get you all the studs with nuts for $50 and the gasket for $50 if you like.

That would be great! PM sent.

I would like to have the car for two days just to be sure as well.

Sounds like they are just covering their arse, which is what any good workshop will do.

Yeah, I think so, seems fairly reasonable the more people I talk to about it.

[mad082]

there are actually 12 studs. 2 per cylinder.