Date:         Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:49:31 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Exhaust collector bolt/nut sizes
Comments: To: Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTinSCZp8u0ki5KMZPTN7T8uOtyv3kn1Zw-QkE5T+@mail.gmail.c om>
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At 04:21 PM 2/11/2011, Gregg Carlen wrote...
>have to be cut off. Anyone know what the sizes are of the 7 bolts/nuts
>that
>hold this thing to the associated pipes? Bentley shows them, but I
>can't
>find an indication of what size they are. I've got to pick some up at
>FLAPS
>or my local Napa, stainless steel, I would assume if I can.

I'm pretty sure they're 8 mm (13 mm wrench, sometimes 12 mm). I
wouldn't use stainless - it's not very strong, and will just seize if
you try to torque them tight to eliminate leaks. Exhaust hardware
should basically be considered "one time use." It's only a couple of
bucks in cheap, steel hardware which you can get at pretty much any
decent hardware store (Ace, Do It Best, etc.). No need to pay more, or
travel farther, to an auto store.

The exception is for studs, where it pays to use copper (or more
commonly, copper plated) nuts. Those may be hard to find locally.