The GMC pickup came back today to fix the exhaust leak. had her pick up new studs. Go figure, wrong ones. And gaskets.

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Well, I think I found why there was an exhaust leak. Hmmm, what'* missing here? Oh, there'* no gasket.


Torquing the bolts back in, this one seemed a bit odd. Bang, what the heck was that? I took it out and this is what I had. Stretched it out, but it didn't brake off.
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All this with the temps at 85* Not sure, but I think I stink a bit.

Darn lucky on the stretchy bolt. If it snapped in two, you'd probably still be out there with a tap it, and swearing like a longshoreman on a bender.

LOL!! He would brought that hammer out and totaled the truck>lol

Super lucky! I've had my share of using helicoils on engines far younger than that dinosaur.

The funny thing is we were talking as I turned the torque wrench. I said why is it taking so long? The others clicked, why not this one. Chris said hope it'* not stripped. I said it feel strong, not like the threads are slipping. Then BANG. I'm like, what was that? Chris thought the wrench slipped and I slammed my hand. I grabbed the air ratchet and spun it out. Well, it didn't snap. Took the bolt out and looked. Wow, don't see that very often. Most of the time when a bolt snaps it just kind of twists off and that'* it.

Glad it worked out for you too. I remember when I twisted one of two mounting screws for the starter under my dad'* F250. I took it off and there'* barely a 1/4 inch of thread sticking out. I thought we were gonna have to take apart the whole stinkin' thing, luckily I was just barely able to get a grip on it with a lot of WD-40 and vicegrips.