Safety wire is the best way . But the bolts are totally sucky to drill through. I would love predrilled stainless bolts

 

The trick I found was to use new drill bits every 3 bolts. If you buy in bulk, the bits are pretty cheap. I've been safety wiring everything possible. One track I seem to always have bolts backing out is Road America. Not sure if its the intense rumble strips or what.

 

all my bolts appear to be tight, but i definitely have a leak that is quite noticeable under the car while running. plus it sputters on cold start now...didnt have a chance to look at it but im wondering if something on my downpipe/o2 broke.

EDIT: i also just realized that there is no flex section in my exhaust system which is probably i terrible idea. re you running any flex zhong?

 

cool beans. I just ordered 70 of these:

• 10x M6
• 25x 5/16"/M8
• 25x M10
• 10x M12

I am also getting a carbon graphite gasket for my turbo to O2 surface as the one MAP provides is a flat sheet of stainless steel and does not appear to be working well. Hopefully between these washers and the new gasket, I won't get anymore exhaust leaks.

 

My downpipe does not have any flex joints. It is a solid 1pc.

 

If you have a separate dowpipe/o2 housing, then the flex is absorbed by the donut gasket and spring bolts. I have the MAP o2 eliminator, which is one piece from the turbo to the cat (ie o2 housing and dp are one piece) and it has a flex section in it since there are no spring bolts used.

 

yeah i have stock o2 with aftermarket downpipe. it definitely sounds like something has let go right at the donut gasket area (i definitely have one on there). unfortunately i didnt get a chance to look before i put the car in storage for the winter.

 

Welp. Got my carbon graphite gasket material. The gasket rep recommended I use the existing SS sheet metal gasket and sandwich it between a sheet of the carbon graphite on each side. He was a little concerned about oxidation so I will have to keep an eye on it.

 

That gasket never blows. I'd tighten the bolts a bit tighter and safety wire them, but I don't know if I've ever seen any come loose.

 

I blew the POS grimspeed one! NEVER buy that one.

 

OEM inlet gasket or aftermarket-

cb

 

safety wire.....

 

didn't you lose a bolt? I thought the GrimmSpeed ones were pretty nice actually.

 

No i didn't lose a bolt. Its very possible that i had a loose bolt that caused a leak. But, it still blew the gasket apart! Plus the little bit of extra height in the gasket caused PIA to get the oil return tube hooked up and the oil feed line. In fact, i think the oil feed line ended up cracking a bit from trying to bend it some.

 

We have never had an issue with those if you use OEM gaskets- the OEM hardware- and proper rated anti-seize- tighten them properly-

cb