ALSO COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS MANIFOLD STUDS, THESE ARE THE THREADED RODS THAT ARE INSERTED IN THE END OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN ORDER TO SECURE THE DOWNPIPE TO THE MANIFOLD. THERE ARE MANY TYPES AND SIZES OF STUDS USED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY INCLUDING BOTH METRIC AND SAE SIZES. SOME CONNECTIONS INCORPORATE A SPRING TO ALLOW SOME MOVEMENT OF THE DOWNPIPE ON THE GASKET WITHOUT LOSING THE SEAL. MOST OFTEN IN MODERN VEHICLES THE MANIFOLD WILL HAVE TWO OR THREE STUDS ON THE MANIFOLD AND USE A ROUND OR HALF-ROUND GASKET WITH A CONED DOWNPIPE TO MAKE THE CONNECTION. THESE STUDS HAVE A TENDENCY TO RUST AND ROT QUICKER THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE EXHAUST DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO ON THE MANIFOLD.

BECAUSE THESE STUDS ARE USUALLY VERY DETERIORATED BY THE TIME THEY LET GO, THEY CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE MANIFOLD. AT LOU’S CUSTOM EXHAUST WE HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERAL TECHNIQUES OVER THE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS JOB.