MANIFOLD EASYWARE If you don’t like our bolts and studs, we’d call you
nuts.
R eplacing exhaust
gasket, manifold, and hardware, all too often the same failure-prone hardware is purchased and put back into play. It makes sense; lots of it is bespoke and not easily upgraded.
manifold gaskets or manifolds themselves is a
straightforward, bread-and-butter job in most automotive shops—but it ain’t easy. You’re fighting in cramped quarters. Some vehicles seem to need access from both the hood and under the car to get the job done. For most of us, though, the worst part of one of these jobs is broken hardware.
Until now.
Dorman now has OE FIX stainless exhaust hardware for popular applications. We’ve patterned OEM hardware but upgraded the material to A2-70 stainless steel. No doubt you’re familiar with stainless steel’s resistance to oxidation, which is part of the reason we chose it. Another reason is its ductility; stainless has a bit more elasticity than some other materials chosen for manifold hardware. The hardware kits are sold per-manifold, so whether you’re working on an inline or a vee or a pancake engine, you can buy only what your customer needs and no more. If you take a look at our applications for these OE FIX solutions, it reads like a “who’s-who” of problem manifolds that have caused their fair share of struggles and strife—we tried to make sure the most failure-prone vehicles were covered well, and we’re still rolling out new fitments. This solution, good though it may be, won’t stop that endless parade of tools designed for removing fasteners. It will, however, make it highly likely that the first set of stainless hardware you install could also be the last set that goes into the vehicle.
The kit contains our aluminum housing and all the necessary gaskets and seals for installation, but we include a few other bits as well, like an updated oil filter. Also in the box is an updated filter cap that has a convenient parts cross-reference tag
heat-staked permanently in place for anyone servicing the vehicle. Rounding out the kit is a brand-new oil
cooler to adapt the kit to early engines. The kit can also be used on later vehicles and is a wise choice if the condition of a vehicle’s oil cooler is questionable. Since sensors vary a bit on the run of engines (and they’re almost always able to be reused), they’re not included—but block-off plugs sure are. A hearty “thank you” goes out to all you service techs who kept letting us know that this was a pressing need. Thanks to your open communication and your patience, you helped us find a way to do the thing that’s best for the planet, which also happens to be what you do day in and day out—keep a few more cars and trucks out of the junk yards and continuing to serve their owners.
PRODUCT SHOWN: P/N 03218HP
Harsh underhood conditions, galvanic corrosion, and heat cycling ad infinitum all contribute to that sinking feeling that comes along with a stuck fastener suddenly giving way very rapidly. We’ve all had to fight these situations with extractors, torches, welders, and drills. When the cylinder head is finally prepped once again to accept the
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