Technical Headman Ball-Socket Collectors Keep Loosening Up

I have tried grade 8 bolts with copper nuts, double nuts and stover nuts. After about 1000 miles they need to be tightened down again as they start leaking.

Anyone have a solution? I even coated the ball-socket with red hi-temp RTV once.

 

How good are your motor mounts?

 

One solution is to tighten them every 500 miles.

Another solution is to cut off the ball connections, and weld on some 3 bolt flanges, and use a copper gasket.

There are probably other solutions, but without more info about the exhaust system, I'd only be guessing.

 

How about longer bolts and stiff spring like an exhaust manifold?

 

When I worked at a race shop we safety wired, (everytime!) the collectors. It was huge work but it worked well for when the owner wanted to drive his car on the street (which was a lot!).

 

Motor mounts are only a couple years old and tight.
I thought about the springs (like factory exhausts with ball sockets use). The hard part would to be able to get a sturdy enough spring easily that would hold up to the heat.

 

If you don't mind metric threads...

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...ing/675216/4182579?q=exhaust+nut+spring&pos=1

 

I thought about those. After looking more, maybe I need to see how exhaust is hung. If its solid to the frame and not on hangers, that may be my issue. I know at the mufflers its solid.

 

yes, might be a good idea to start at the beginning