Header/misfire problem

[BigMac88]

Well I was putting on my new header with some friends tonight and as we took the old manifold off, one of the outer studs with the locking nut was seized and broke off inside the block. We put the new header on anyway and torqued the other bolts down, hoping the problem would be solved. However, after a test drive my car sounds like a lawnmower; probably misfiring on the cylinder with the missing stud.

What should I do?

 

[Spody02]

you have a huge exhaust leak, hopefully you can get that stud out, try using an easy out

 

[BigMac88]

Ok will do. Should I not drive the car till I fix this problem?

 

[Spody02]

i wouldnt

 

[BigMac88]

K for sure. I found the easy outs, I think my buddy at Sears can hook one up but I gotta get the right size.

 

[Spody02]

be careful not to go to deep

 

[BigMac88]

Yeah I think 3/8 of and inch or less would be ok. Damn broken studs...

 

[DC2Integ]

sucks man i hate exhaust leaks. hey make our cars sound like shit

 

[BigMac88]

Yeah it sounds like a lawnmower or rocks in a can haha

 

[BigMac88]

Ok well everything is fixed and the studs have been replaced with bolts. However I am still getting a really weird rattling/wooshing sound coming from the car when I accelerate. I checked the spark plugs and replaced #1 and #4 (they were nasty), helped a little but I'm still getting the rattling sound. Is this the header breaking in or is something else going on? Something wrong with the connection to the cat?

 

[joesrcool]

Sounds more like a leak to me. Check to make sure all exhaust gaskets are still in place.


-Joe

 

[BigMac88]

I'm gonna put it up on the jack and see if maybe the donut gasket is bad. Or maybe it's not connected to the cat tight enough?