Missing manifold bolt?

white1500 · May 30, 2014

I was giving my truck a look for over today after tightening the battery cables and noticed that I might be missing a bolt on the front end of the drivers side manifold. The bolt would be just on top of the very first spark plug.

Can someone check if they have a bolt there?

And if I'm missing a bolt what's the best source for just one single manifold bolt?

I don't have a clue how one would fall off...

Tyia.

txab · May 30, 2014

Broken bolt.... Pretty common. Remove manifold time

white1500 · May 30, 2014

Pardon my ignorance, but why will I need to remove the entire manifold? In order to get the broken bolt out?

And if its that big of a deal to fix then its going to stay this way for a while. Hopefully its not causing any issues.

But thank you for the heads up!

Daryl Z71 · May 30, 2014

I have both of mine missing on the front of both sides. The drivers side leaks pretty good when the motor is cold. I'm getting ready to remove the manifold, and get the broken one out, and replace them with studs more than likely if possible.

white1500 · May 30, 2014

Please write up or share as much as you can of the process. I'd like to take care of this in the fall.

Daryl Z71 · May 30, 2014

Will do. I plan on spraying the bolts with PB Blaster every day a few days before hand. Hopefully I can get them off without breaking anymore of the bolts.

Bob D · May 30, 2014

...need to remove the entire manifold? In order to get the broken bolt out?

I would suggest first determine if bolt is broken or missing as post title suggests.

PS: My truck was in for warranty work (minor oil leak) @ 1 yr old. Apparently two bolts were missing from oil pan! Must've been 3rd shift on GM assembly line...

Daryl Z71 · June 18, 2014

I wanted to update this post with something I've found. I received my catalog from LMC Truck recently, and I found clamp style brackets that will supposedly fix the leaking problem if one of the end bolts are missing. I'm thinking of trying them.

00Silverado4x4 · June 18, 2014

I wanted to update this post with something I've found. I received my catalog from LMC Truck recently, and I found clamp style brackets that will supposedly fix the leaking problem if one of the end bolts are missing. I'm thinking of trying them.

IMG_20140618_243912809.jpg

That's awesome, I found a few websites that offered those brackets too. I've had the back driver side broken for quite a while and just recently the front driver side is now broken off. Looks like I'll be ordering one for each end pretty soon. It doesn't seem to be leaking (going off sound only) but I don't want to loose any more bolts.

white1500 · June 18, 2014

Fantastic find, thank you!!

Hopefully I just have 1 broken bolt.

trapperman83 · June 19, 2014

I have a busted one on passanger side front. I was seriously considering headers but getting those bolts out is almost impossible when there snapped off in aluminum a guy would almost have to Heli coil them.

white1500 · June 19, 2014

... After I washed her today I checked the manifolds and I'm missing two bolts! The front and back bolts on the drivers side.

trapperman83 · June 19, 2014

... After I washed her today I checked the manifolds and I'm missing two bolts! The front and back bolts on the drivers side.

Have u checked to see if there broke off?

white1500 · June 19, 2014

No I haven't had the opportunity to get that close of a view just yet but I'm assuming that they've snapped off. If this is the case I will be going with fix posted above.

efritz · June 19, 2014

I have written another post on this, but I have done this multiple times. You do not have to unbolt the manifold flange bolts. What I do is unbolt all the bolts that haven't broken, and pull both manifolds down at the same time, the ones that are broken off sticking out, I heat up and try with a vise grip, if that fails just weld a nut on and back it out. The ones that are broken off flush you have to build up a little weld and then weld a nut on. ALWAYS wait for the bolt to cool down or the aluminum threads will be damaged, I like to use ice on the bolt as it shrinks the bolt and makes it easier. GM has new bolts, go to the dealer and get them. You shouldn't need new gaskets as they are stamped stainless. Not too bad a job.