A couple of years ago, I bought a one ton GMC to use as a snow plow truck.
During some repairs we needed to replace a donut gasket on the exhaust system.
Removing the studs to replace the gasket was a problem. We ended up breaking at least one of them.
The mechanic drove me over to his parts store that was open on a Sunday, and we got some replacement parts. One of the parts was a product called "Clamp a stud".
I had never heard or seen it before.
I ended up swapping out that engine and replacing it. Recently we needed to replace another donut gasket on this other engine's exhaust system.
This time we broke two of the three studs holding the flange to the manifold.
I remembered the "clamp a stud" and how I inquired from the company that makes them where in MA I could get some, as the first place from years ago, said at that time that they couldn't get them any more.
The salesman from that manufacturer gave me a list of parts warehouses in Boston that carry their products. I gave that list to my local Napa store owner and told him that I would buy these from him if he carried them. (again this was years ago).
Well, I called up my local Napa store and asked if they had them last Monday morning as on Sunday morning we broke two of the three. And sure enough they had them in stock.
My mechanic just installed two of them and the engine is very quite now.
Ok, so by now, if you've never heard of "clamp a stud" you are wondering what they are. Basically they are a "C" clamp that has bolts and jamb nuts to secure the flange to the manifold.
Here is a shot of the directions that came with the "clamp a stud":
If you ever break off a stud on your donut gasket manifold these will definitely save you a lot of time and money trying to replace the studs.
Jim Rogers
