pretty much all the ones I replace measure 0.080" warpage...spec is 0.004 per foot iirc. most of the bolts are sheared off flush with the head...the manifold movement shears them agaist the head. headers are the fix...stainless bolt upgrades last longer but still shear...this tells me...its not a bolt problem.

 

2 of the 3 bolts were broken off under the bolt head rather than the engine head. I wonder how long term the headers hold up. Back in my hot rodding days, seems they took constant maintence for loose bolts and rust holes.

 

Use quality, locking fasteners, and remflex gaskets. Retorque after a few days of driving, and you likely won't have any more issues with them. (and you may not even need to retorque.)

 

Hey Guys! My name is Gary, from Long Island, NY

Instagram @Rammpage (for pics of the truck)


I purchased a 2013 Ram Sport back in 2015, i had 40,000 on the odometer, i put another 40,000 on the truck in the first year and a half due to my dad being sick and traveling back and forth to the hospital 2-3 times a day. During that time while i was under warranty i had the manifold bolts go 3 times on different sides. they broke again this past may on the passenger side and they fixed it under warranty... now fast forward 5 months!! they broke again! on the drivers side, and now the warranty has expired! i ended up calling Corporate (main #) 1800-423-6343, theres another one 1800-992-1997, and i opened a case but they want me to get it diagnosed by the dealership for $150 lol before they can take action, i flipped out telling them that they put out a TSB and are aware that their parts are garbage and they refuse to do anything about it... she told me that if enough people fill out a complaint form at chrysler.com/chryslercares there is a "possibility " they will look into doing a recall for it (this was yesterday) i came across this forum today doing a google search for (ram 1500 exhaust manifold bolts) and figured id sign up and share this info with you guys, hopefully we can make enough noise to make this happen

 

Trouble is, even if the issue a recall, all they are going to do is replace the bolts again. Which is obviously ineffective. The manifold design is the issue. All the heat gets concentrated on that back cylinder, and after a while, the bolts just give up. Want to do a permanent fix? Replace the stock manifolds with shorty headers.

 

How much is that going to set me back?

 

Depends on which headers you get, and if you install them yourself or not. Lots of options here. Check Summit, or Jegs. Check out their offerings for direct fit shorty headers for your truck.

 

So planing the manifold and replacing the bolt doesn’t work?

 

its repairs the symptom not the design problem. it puts you back to square one and a repeat repair somewhere done the road.

 

HeyYou, thanks for your advice in this post. I just had my second exhaust manifold bolt replaced and this time it was out of warranty. I figured the first was a fluke until I found this forum. I'm not doing this again and after reading the entire thread twice I'm convinced as you seem to be that the shorty headers are the way to go. I'm going to wait for the 4th of July since summit will probably be running sales and order the headers and felpro gaskets then. The price of the those together is less than having these replaced again and halting inspection as it did this time.

Thanks again