Drilling exhaust manifold

This may be a dumb question. Here goes: I have a Chevy 235, pretty basic. One of my exhaust manifold studs that connects to the collar where the donut gasket connects is broken off. My question is this: instead of removing the stud and replacing it, would it hurt to drill all of the way through the exhaust manifold, and use grade 8 bolts and washers to connect the exhaust pipe? Why would this be a bad idea?

 

Been there, done that, worked fine.

 

There is no reason not to drill it. Makes it easier to deal with. Then if it breaks in the future,just put a new bolt in it.I do it all the time.

 

Ive done it w/v-8 manifolds. I'd use ss or brass bolts and nuts though.

 

I drilled mine out retapped them and made new studs out of stainless rod and used brass nuts , when I had to change the gasket years later they came off like I put them on yesterday.

 

Pretty common fix. Hell, I even did it to the top row of bolts that connect the exhaust manis to the cylinder heads on my FE 390 for the same reason.

 

worked for me a couple of times on ot car.