Exhausting Struggle!!!!!!

[JeepMonkey]

Ok....So I replaced my stock header with a Borla a few years ago. When I first installed it, I wasn't able to get all four collector bolts tightened. To be exact, I was only able to tighten three of them. The fourth was a pain in the ass and I just got it tight enough to not fall off. Well, I have since noticed a small exhaust leak and decided it's time to have another try at tightening this POS up. It's a 2001, 4.0 with a double pipe exit. The bolt in question is on the front pipe, closest to the block. I've tried every combination of wobble socket and extension, or wrench I have with no luck. At this point I'm thinking it would be easier to pull the engine out and tighten it, but that's a hell of a lot of work for one bolt and a mildly inconvenient leak sound.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[SteelHeadz]

I use a short wobbler socket from Snap-on with a 12 inch extension and a ratchet.

 

[54cj3b]

try pulling fender if that's whats going to give you the angle you need to tighten it or use a shorter extension I like the old fashioned spring extensions my grandfather gave me years ago kind of looks like a toilet snake bends every angle you can think of

 

[JeepMonkey]

I thought about pullin the fender too. I guess when I get my flat fenders I'll tackle this again.

I tried all different combos of woblys and extensions with no luck.

I like the spring extension idea though. I'll have to keep my eyes open for something like that.

 

[JPNinPA]

I had a similar issue. Same bolt, but the issue was holding the bolt above the flange. I emailed the header mfg and they said you will have to tighten every few hundred miles. Nice! I could get to the bottom no issue. Holding the top was impossible. I ended up taking the intake manifold off. Only wish I replace the flange bolts with stage 8 locking header bolts. I hope to hear if you get this tightened without taking it all apart.

PS flex spring extension $8 amazlon.

 

[Crazy4diesels]

When I first got my 05 brand-new I removed three of those bolts and put never-sieze on them so that years later I could service them. That fourth bolt I could not get out. I ended up with a little leak there (just a slight one) that I can hear if I get right down on top of it. I decided that, someday, when I need to get the pipes out I'd PULL THE FENDER. It seemed like the easiest thing to do. The only bad thing is you'll crack the paint at the seam by the cowl. It looks like you can unbolt a lot of the stuff on the inner fender, tie it up out of the way, and just let it all hang there while you work. The two piece exhaust manifold was a good idea. The bolt placement was NOT so good. Best of luck - John

 

[JeepMonkey]

Yeah it's one of those things that is a minor annoyance, so I'll let it be for now and have another stab at it when I've forgotten how hard it was to get to the last time. I actually ended up spending most of the day under the Jeep and fixed a few other things while I was there so it wasn't a complete wasted effort.