I had a bad exhaust leak between the turbo and the manifold (stock). So i took it all off, put 4 new studs in the manifold and had both surfaces machined. Used new nuts, new gasket, and a quality sealant. Bolted it together off the car so it was real tight, was fine for a week and now its ffffing leaking again. Im at wits end I really dont want to do it all again!!

try re tightening the nuts again, with the new gasket they can leak after a little bit like you said so need to be re tightened again sometimes.

Sounds like you should have retightened. When things like manifolds get hot, grow, get cold and shrink it can often need retightening. Give it a go and see how you go, if not you might be doing it all over again.

Ok yeah just went and had a look, and all 4 nuts were loose as a goose. The guy at the exhaust shop said i shouldnt have to use loctite so i didnt, im regretting that decision. Luckily the gasket didnt blow and the leak has 100% stopped for the time being. Whats the best way to lock the nuts in without having to do a full disassembly? I met this guy tonight he reckons its bcoz i didnt use inconel studs or something? Anyone know anything about this? what if i were to double up on the nuts, 2 on each stud, smeering the inside of each additional nut with loctite red?

I don't think loctite have anything rated to the temp a turbo manifold will get to. I've used metal lock nuts in the past without any problems. They had a couple of thin 'tabs' of metal on the top of the nut which push against the thread, but there are numerous types which are suited to high temp applications.

It's not that you need loctite, things need retightening after they heat up and cool down a few times. Once you've done this they will stay tight.

ohk thanks for the tips guys. Ill see how she goes, ive got loctice rated till 550c but dont think ill bother. Cheers.

yea re tighten and see how you go. i thought that was just common sense lol

it always happens mate. Its not the first time. The first time it happened i found the turbo was just hanging there by 2 nuts, they other 2 were just gone. I always retighten them but they come loose again, even with the stupid nissan locking plate. Next step will be to tack weld the ****ers. I always do a decent job im not dodgey. I pulled the whole assembly off just so i could get 4 new studs in the manifold and get it machined, and asked the shop for advice. My mistake perhaps was going to a muffler shop, not a turbo specialist. I think my custom 3 inch zorst doesnt help, the way it hangs off it. This time i jacked the zorst up so all the pressure was off the nuts, and tightened them. Im just glad the homemade gasket didnt blow due to the leak.

Quote: I always do a decent job im not dodgey. Quote: Im just glad the homemade gasket didnt blow due to the leak. LOL... funny ****... hope it stops leaking for ya hey.. what a pain in the ass...

Oh it was proper gasket material from the exhaust shop, i just had to cut it myself, which i did properly Thanks mate Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

loctite isn't rated for those temps. use proper flange nuts with the little teeth on the face of them that lock them on.

There are proper lock nuts that have like a half washer loking tab at the back of the nut in the thread. That and the proper studs and you wont have a problem. The reason the manifold warped last time was because it was leaking for a long tme, If I was you I would be going to a bolt shop and asking for the right studs and locking nuts and doing it properly.

yeah i seen those in the zoom mag, there fairly pricy, but if you want the job done right......

Save damaging the manifold and exhaust housing, and all the mucking around to pull it off and on again, thats the biggest pain in the arse

Quote: Originally Posted by cookie350 [View Post] loctite isn't rated for those temps. use proper flange nuts with the little teeth on the face of them that lock them on. Thats what im using, and they come loose. thanks anyway, will take chasers advice.

If you get stuck mate i can get some and post them out to you