As anyone who has one of these can attest to, using the stock exhaust bolt/spring to hold the flange to the swingvalve becomes a ----- to remove. Getting a wrench on the nut to remove the bolt was next to impossible.
I read up on this, and some seemed to suggest tapping the hole for a helicoil. I guess that makes sense. You can use a stainless steel helicoil and if the bolt rusts in, it would probably be possible to replace the helicoil.
Well, I went a different way. I tapped the hole for an M10x1.5 bolt. I used a nut to hold the tap straight and spun it down. It was surprisingly easy, and the holes didn't need to be opened up any larger to start the tap.
The real desire here was to utilize parts that were easily available from the shop down the road, or Rock Auto.
I originally wanted to try these bolts:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-897-03126.aspx
or:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-5481-675-203.aspx
In the end, I decided to go with these studs:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-921-03107.aspx
or:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-30176-675-216.aspx
coupled with these springs:
http://www.finddormanhelp.com/Produc...&pcat=4&cat=17
Here's the pictures of the progress:
After a year or two when I take the damn thing out again for some unforeseen issue, I'll update this post to let everyone know how it turned out.
Later!
Jeff