I have a 1999 F-150 with a 4.6 automatic 4x4. The exhaust started sounding real loud, so I took it into a shop. They checked it out and explained that the last bolt toward the back of the truck on the Pass. side exhaust manifold had sheared it's head off. They said they don't fix things like that. So I took it to a dealer to see what outrageous price they wanted to fix it- they said about 2.3 hours of time at 78.00 an hour.

Has anyone else had this problem or seen it on F-150's? The problem is in the fact that it is an aluminum head and a steel bolt will make it very hard to get out. I could try to drill a hole in the bolt and use a EZ out to get it loose, but I don't want to screw it all up either.

Any opinions or thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.

 

If you took the manifold off, would there be enough bolt left to get ahold of? I'd be more worried about stripping the hole in the aluminum head.

 

Yes, if I completely removed the exhaust manifold, there would be about a half of a inch of the bolt sticking out of the head. And yes I thought of using vice-grips to try an twist it out, but that seldom works and just messes it up even more. If it won't drill and ez-out, I might try to weld a new bolt on the top of it and twist on the new bolt's head to get it out. The really fun part is to get all of the other bolts off and remove the exhaust manifold- no small job at all!!!

 

when i took my exaust manifold off the bolt came out easy should be able to use pliers.

 

2.3 hours probably covers re-re'ing the exhaust manifold to twist out the bolt.

Not sure what I would do if it was my truck.