Rusty Stud ( Not talking about myself )

[Scarpa]

So I was breaking free the three studs and nuts on the exhaust manifold heat shield cause I wanted to address a potential oil leak with the exhaust manifold gasket. I didn't break a stud or anything, but the nut came off one, and then there is just the washer and stud still there, all rusted to the heat shield. Short of welding the nut back to it, anyone has any suggestions on freeing that stud?

[Nut124]

That's going to be a tough one. Why do you have to get the stud out?

[Scarpa]

Well I was trying to get the heat shield off

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I suggest leaving the three studs in the exhaust manifold. To "unstick" the frozen washers and the heat shield from the studs, I'd try in this order:

First, try getting a small chisel under the washer and hammer it to try and pop it off.
Second, try heating the stud / washer with a propane torch, and see if that loosens it.
Third, soak it with penetrating oil, preferable overnight, and then start over with the first method above.

The sheet metal of the heat shield is easy to tear, so be gentle with it. In extreme cases, sometimes I remove the whole manifold with the heat shield still attached.

-Bryan

[Scarpa]

Never thought to take the manifold off with the heat shield. I'd probably have to take the distributor off for that.

I was told that I don't even need the heat shield.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I'd probably have to take the distributor off for that.

I was told that I don't even need the heat shield.

You shouldn't have to remove the distributor. Just loosen the bracket on the downpipe on the underside of the car, where it attaches to the bellhousing, remove the bolts that hold the exhaust manifold to the downpipe, slide the downpipe down, remove the 5 nuts (bolts) that secure the manifold to the head (the center stud has the heater return pipe bracket), and the manifold should slide downward without having to remove the distributor.

Earlier spiders did not have a heat shield, but my guess is that it was added to keep heat away from the distributor. Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not, but the shield will prolong the life of your distributor and its seals.

-Bryan

[Scarpa]

Thanks, Bryan!

I will try to tackle this from the underside; it's a great idea cause I did not want to remove that distributer and have to deal with the timing on the car.

I feel the same as you on keeping the heat shield. It's just this one is so corroded. It's definitely time for a new one, and I haven't found one for sale yet. I might have to try and make one. I found in these forums from a thread years ago that some guy was selling custom ones, but he hasn't gotten back in touch with me yet.