Exhaust manifold bolts from hell!
 

I am hoping someone here can help me. The factory can't seem to. I bought a 93 ford ranger 4.0 - great truck needs a little work - I replaced the straight pipe the farmer welded on with a complete exhaust system - started the truck and bap bap bap the manifold gasket or manifold itself is leaking - no problem get a new one - Ford does not stock any longer - buy one after market = $65.00 direct factory replacement - I set up an appointment with a local shop to do the work - my guy says "hey remember to get new bolts" - gotta figure they are going to break. Local usual parts store do not have these are factory parts - ok, I call 7 dealers in the Syracuse area one of the 7 has a parts guy that's on his game - he tells me they are a mix of bolts and studs - all bolts on the truck(original) I ask how much - $29 ea. for bolts $24 ea. for studs $14 ea for nuts - 6 total on the vehicle - i figure 3 bolts 3 studs 3 nuts = 190+ for the hardware on a $65 manifold - oh yeah and $100 an hour for the 4 hour job if the bolts don't break. WOW i should be able to find the parts cheaper - i look and find at GREENSALES - they have 3 of the N806171-S2 bolts - I look for the other bolts and fins them at FORD PARTS GIANT= N806170-S2. When i get the shipment from FORD PARTS GIANT they are studs (w701868-S300) these have replaced the bolts - I am looking for the nuts for the studs - when i look up the part W701 - I find the nuts but the description is for a FORD EDGE 2.9 Liter - I spent an almost an hour with FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE and got no where they dont know what is replaced and don't know the nomenclature for the nuts which would go on the studs they replaced - ??? Can anybody help??

Heck, when I did my heads, I just went to the hardware (ACE) and had them check the thread size, just got some nice hard stainless steel ones for a few bucks. Never had a lick of problem. Have done quite a few in my life. ;)

Why in God's name would you spend 190 on bolts or even spend this much time looking for them. Figure out what thread and length they are and go buy them at the hardware store. Or just buy a big length of stainless threaded rod and cut it into studs.

Should be metric, just buy some ARP stainless steel manifold studs and bolts or high grade 10.8 hardware, I picked up a set for my car for like $25. Use a thread chaser to clean up the female threads on the block and before you insert the new ones, dab them with never seize.

I've gone to Ford to get certain specialty bolts that have specific shear ratings but manifold bolts and studs are pretty standard. Heads up, spray kroil on them every night for a week before you even begin to touch them.