That gasket is terrible im on my 3rd

Finally found time to pull it apart. Surprisingly the gasket is still in one piece and actually looks fine. Don't know if the studs actually stretched or if it was just because half of them loosened up. It's a pita to pull the manifold so I'm just going to bolt it back up with Inconel, stage 8 and Resbond. If the flanges are not true I'm going to regret this decision.

Are you sticking with M8? Let me know how you go. I have used M8 studs but haven't used Resbond, then again I'm only running ~8 pounds.

Sticking with M8, don't think I'd be able to squeeze M10 in there. There's a very distinct lack of room with the MSM turbo setup. I'd like to swap it out for an EFR and 275whp but that requires money and a built engine. I have neither right now and I still need a lot of non-turbo shit before I get back out this year.

So is this confirmation that the FM M8 stuff works on the MSM?

I'm about to dig into replacing the head-to-manifold gasket on my MSM because it's a leaky piece of shit, and may as well do this while i'm in there if it works and is easy.

:noob:

They are both M8x1.25, so yes they work just fine. Don't bother replacing that gasket, leave it in the trash where it belongs.

I was lazy and just pulled the gasket out and slapped it all back together with Inconel. No machining, no measuring. I've driven a whopping 50 miles so far and no leaks yet. I'll wait till after my first track day to declare it a success but so far so good.

Kevin, I think he was refering to head to manifold, not the manifold to turbo. I've never heard of anyone not running the one he is reffering to. Mine's actually starting to leak too.

Ben, if you're staying M8, you can give this hardware some consideration as well. Some of us around here are running it with success.

1990-1996 Nissan 300zx OEM Turbo to Downpipe Stud

Thats what is going to be going into my car. Check the epic studs loosening thread, my source was cheaper than that. I've also got a metric dick load of copper lock nuts because I bought them in packs of 25. I have flanged and non-flanged I'll do 20 bucks for a set of 4 shipped for em.

Oh... i'm replacing the head-to-manifold gasket. Wasn't really planning on replacing the manifold-to-turbo gasket, i don't have a problem with that one leaking.

But, i've heard the horror stories so was thinking about replacing THOSE with the Iconel stuff.

Now i'm getting confused, my apologies for being dense. I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the engine bay of this thing.

Are you guys suggesting i replace the studs on the head that the manifold goes over with this stuff, too? Or just the turbo-to-manifold studs?

Apologies for threadjacking OP, but i appreciate the info. :)

Just the manifold to turbo.

That's what i thought, but i wasn't sure. I think it was the mis-communication caused by me shitting on the thread about my exhaust manifold gasket. Sorry 'bout that.

Any input on what to do about the chronic loosening of the fasteners that hold the manifold on the head on these cars?

PMing you about the copper locknuts.

You mean I was actually supposed to read the part where he specifically said head-to-manifold gasket?:rofl:
That's one of the few places I haven't had problems yet, and I'm sure it will now be the next thing to leak.

Are your head-manifold studs backing out? Or just the nuts loosening up? Resbond on the stock studs + Stage 8 nuts should keep all of it together. Looking around...there aren't a lot of options for M10x1.25 lock nuts.

I'm pretty sure it's just the nuts loosening up. Wasn't sure if they were M8 or M10. I'll do some digging.

Oh, and that gasket will leak, if it hasn't leaked already. Dig down into it, i bet you'll see soot in at least a place or two. :giggle:

When I first pulled my turbo and whole exhaust system apart (I'm sure you both know how much that sucks), besides the broken studs and such, about half of the studs in the head backed out with the nuts.

I used resbond to put the studs back in and then used some of the nuts I had that were still good, and then ordered/found some others for the rest.

Haven't really had any problems with them backing out yet, but haven't been on the track yet either.

I did a track day yesterday and had one of the studs back out with the nut still on it tight, I was running wastegate boost. Is your M8 setup still holding up OK midpack?

Semi old thread, I'm subscribing for potential future reference. Plus the last question wasn't answered.

So far no problems with Inconel, Resbond, and stage 8 hardware. I've only done one trackday so far and it's held up ok. Though to be honest, it was a new track for me with lots of concrete walls and I have this aversion to hitting very hard objects so I drove like a little boy most of the day. Thinking back on it, both of my leaks developed after a day at Putnam Park and I don't know when I'll make it back out there. Waited too long to register for this weekend's event which reminds me, I need to register for Hallett next month.

Where can I get one of those

It's OEM, so probably the dealer. MSM part.


Anyways... i replaced my head-to-manifold gasket. Doesn't seem to have helped anything, but i know that gasket was leaking. Still hearing an exhaust leak. The turbo-to-manifold gasket is NOT leaking, and i've replaced all the gaskets in the exhaust. No visible signs of leaking.

Driving me batty.