Well I'm going to tackle my brokem exhaust studs issue this week and was wondering should I go back with studs or use bolts like some header kits come with? I'm still going to be using my stock manifolds. The bolts just seem like they may be easier. Advice?

 

I used locking bolts on headers. Going back to stock manifold probably would use studs.

 

I would stick with the studs. Less chance of stripping the holes in the head. The new ones from Ford are stainless steel.

 

They were all stainless steel - the stockers I pulled from my '01 were stainless.

The problem seems to be that the nuts rot and stick to the manifold - the manifold heats up, expands, cools off and contracts, dragging the nuts/studs with it - which fatigues the studs and they break.

Someone reported that the replacement nuts from Ford were copper plated - which allows them to slide against the manifold. Not sure how long that would last.

Ideally, I would use studs personally. Make sure the nuts you get from Ford are plated or stainless or SOMETHING to keep them from corroding...

 

I had the right side re-done and I inspected the new replacement parts before they went in and they had a copper like coating on them.

 

I was gonna just get some from a parts store. Find some meant for exhaust. Started on it the other day and apparently the previous owner tried as all the nuts were rounded already. Back to the drawing board.

 

studs r 4 OEM exhaust manifolds & bolts r required for headers.

 

Stage 8 Locking Header Bolt Kits 8905 - SummitRacing.com

Used Stage 8 locking bolts on my headers. Never loosened in two years.
Click on link , then look for video tab, 10 second video of how they work.

 

I would be seriously tempted to use stainless bolts simply because of the high failure rate of studs. Shoot, bolts can't be any worse than studs.