Annoying ticking sound!
 

Annoying ticking sound coming from your LS engine? Could be a broken exhaust bolt causing a leak at the cylinder head. In my experience it seems to be a common problem.


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Yup there is the problem, time to remove the manifold.


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At least the bolt broke at the head leaving something to grab onto and I don't need to drill it out.


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Got to use my cool stud extractor tool.


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There is the dirty raskell!


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The only reason I'm replacing the manifold instead of sending the old one to the machine shop to be resurfaced is this truck can't have any down time. Look it's made in Canada ehh!


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New manifold gasket


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New manifold bolts, kind of annoying because they only come 5 in one bag and the manifold requires 6 bolts so either your going to reuse one bolt or have 4 leftover new bolts.


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New flange gasket left side only.


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New flange studs


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Note the manifold gasket is marked for proper instillation position.


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All better now! No more ticking!

Are those aluminum heads?

Yeah they are Mike. All LS motors have aluminum heads except 99 and early 00 6.0 engines that came in a 2500 or 3500. A cast iron LS head is very rare.

So I wonder if the cooling/heating characteristics of cast iron and aluminum have anything to do with the bolt heads popping off. Meaning, the head cools and contracts quicker than the iron manifolds.

I'm sure it's part of the problem. You would of thought the engenders would of added a domed washer to help with the manifold expansion. But like the old saying goes I didn't buy it, build it, or break it. I'm just here to fix it.