383 - 440 HP Exhaust Manifold & Fastener Prep

I'm going over the original 440 in my 68 Sport Fury, and I'm going to have to replace a number of the HP exhaust manifold fasteners, both the sleeve nuts and studs. It looks like there are a number of resources for these things, from Mancini to Epay, and I'd like to get some nice quality parts AND install them properly.

I've really only dealt with headers before, so my main question is how to install these things. In addition to the water jacket issue, what do I need to do to keep the studs locked in the head and the threads on the studs in good shape?

Left to my own devices, I would probably use some liquid teflon pipe sealant on the coarse threads into the heads, and then maybe some hi-temp anti-seize on the fine threads. I don't really plan on taking these things off on a regular basis, but I'd like for them to unscrew rather than shear off again.

As for the manifold-to-head sealing, I don't know if I can get away with metal-to-metal like when the engine was fresh. Is there a preferred gasket or sealant out there now?

Thanks!

Clair

If you have your manifolds lightly milled to get them flat and your heads are clean they should seal fine without gaskets, copper head gasket sealant (the paste, not silicone) is a good product to use, thin coat if the heads are a little pitted.

THanks, Scott!

That's what I was hoping to get away with manifold-to-head. Will have to see if I still have a decent machine shop around... I've had really (REALLY) crappy luck with work I farmed out lately.

Not sure if you are replacing fasteners or not, but AMK has nice repro fasteners with the correct head markings.

If you get lucky like I did, you'll find a shop that will do them and when you go to pick them up, the shop dog will bite your hand and you'll not have to pay for the mill work.