[GoatWood]

Yep, you read that correctly!

I have a manifold leak that no less that 3 shops are willing to work on, due to the nature of the repair. It's crazy, I've never been turned away by people I am willing to give money too, but seems like nobody wants to do this job for me.

Does anyone have a shop who relishes jobs like these and isn't afraid to get in and take out bolts, resurface the head and fix this for me? The clicking sound (and probably the exhaust fumes) are driving me crazy.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Duff]

Not an answer to your leak, but doubtful the head will need resurfaced, just a matter of locating the leak, which is probably a bad gasket or a cracked exhaust manifold. Remove and replace.

 

[GoatWood]

Doubtful the head will need resurfaced, just a matter of locating the leak, which is probably a bad gasket or a cracked exhaust manifold. Remove and replace.

One guy told me the manifold gets warped kind of like brake rotors can, and will need to send to a machine shop. Maybe he's BS-ing me but the leak looked larger than a gasket and the manifold didn't look cracked. My mistake though, you are correct I don't think he meant the head had to be resurfaced.

 

[GoatWood]

Also nobody was interested in even removing/replacing the manifold...

 

[armyadarkness]

Also nobody was interested in even removing/replacing the manifold...

Nowadays, shops are just "parts swappers". They want brakes, alternators, radiators, starters...

They have no idea how to diagnose or improvise, and if your manny bolts are rusted, there's a good chance that they'll snap on removal. Then, someone has a fun job!

It's no big deal for a real mechanic, but good luck finding one. There are a few cali guys here, in your area. they may chime in with a referral.

 

[GoatWood]

Nowadays, shops are just "parts swappers". They want brakes, alternators, radiators, starters...

They have no idea how to diagnose or improvise, and if your manny bolts are rusted, there's a good chance that they'll snap on removal. Then, someone has a fun job!

It's no big deal for a real mechanic, but good luck finding one. There are a few cali guys here, in your area. they may chime in with a referral.

Thank you, that is absolutely spot on. One guy said he's the only one who had the skills to do it and he frankly said it is a pain in the ass and he doesn't need the headache.

 

[armyadarkness]

if the bolts do snap, it sucks, but honestly, it's not as bad as taxes or mother in laws.

if you have the right tools, it's easy to get the snapped stuff out. Then for the new bolts, use stainless and some anti-seize.

 

[GoatWood]

if the bolts do snap, it sucks, but honestly, it's not as bad as taxes or mother in laws.

if you have the right tools, it's easy to get the snapped stuff out. Then for the new bolts, use stainless and some anti-seize.

I wish I had a better option to work on my own car, but I don't have a lift and this job seems like it would definitely be easier with one!

 

[Verdoro 68]

Where in the Bay Area are you located? I'm in the Concord area and know of a couple shops that service old iron and could do this.

 

[GoatWood]

Where in the Bay Area are you located? I'm in the Concord area and know of a couple shops that service old iron and could do this.

Hi Veroro! I am in San Rafael (which probably doesn't help my cause, because Marin, lol). I am fine driving to Concord if that's what it takes, that would be a nice little cruise. Please PM me! Thank you.

 

[Sick467]

Before too long, if not already, muscle car hobby mechanic work will be left to those who can do it themselves or have to those who have the money to ship the car to the "specialty" shops. Sad, but true. Frankly, I would not trust a shop around my neck of the woods to touch a job like an intake swap, mainly due to the likelihood they would scar the paint or worse, let alone know the tricks to these old Pontiacs...as minor as they seem to some of us.

 

[Miko66]

Yep, you read that correctly!

I have a manifold leak that no less that 3 shops are willing to work on, due to the nature of the repair. It's crazy, I've never been turned away by people I am willing to give money too, but seems like nobody wants to do this job for me.

Does anyone have a shop who relishes jobs like these and isn't afraid to get in and take out bolts, resurface the head and fix this for me? The clicking sound (and probably the exhaust fumes) are driving me crazy.

Thanks in advance.

GW, if you are not in a rush, the Good Guys car show is coming up next weekend at the Alameda Fair Grounds, in Pleasanton and you may be able to get some information on machine shops/mechanics there. I also live in Pleasanton and will be attending that show. If you plan on going, let me know and we can meet up. Thanks.

 

[geeteeohguy]

I'll add: if it's been leaking a long time, it can 'blowtorch' the head and cause some erosion to the head. Surfacing the exhaust ports on a Pontiac head is basically unheard of. You may need a new manifold. Good used and reproduction HO manifolds ARE available. New gaskets will take care of any erosion, if it exists.
I used to be a professional mechanic. No tech worth his salt is going to want to work on a 50-60 year old car with an exhaust, intake, oil leak, etc. and guarantee it. It's a losing proposition. If you were local to me, I would help you do it, but with no guarantee at all. Final note: if passenger side, many times it is a worn heat riser shaft hole causing the tick. This can be brazed up and repaired sometimes. Verdoro is a solid guy. Never met him personally, but have 'known' him a long time. If he wants to help you with some good info, , you are ahead of the game.
30+ years ago the senior mechanic in the shop I worked at recommended valve cover gaskets to fix the oil leaks on a '67 Catalina with a 400 engine. I told him not to touch it. He went after it anyhow. That car came back a don't know how many times. He ended up pulling the engine and doing the rear main, oil pan, timing cover, valley pan, etc. for FREE.
The joke after that was "with this oil leak I thee wed". And the car was 'only' 20-25 years old at the time!
Most professionals these days know that old car guys tend to be cheap, nit-picky, and hard to please. When you combine this with using either worn, decades-old parts to use in the repair, or poorly made reproduction parts, it's hard to have a win-win situation. Good luck.

 

[geeteeohguy]

GW, if you are not in a rush, the Good Guys car show is coming up next weekend at the Alameda Fair Grounds, in Pleasanton and you may be able to get some information on machine shops/mechanics there. I also live in Pleasanton and will be attending that show. If you plan on going, let me know and we can meet up. Thanks.

He may also be able to pick up a manifold at the swap meet.

 

[GoatWood]

GW, if you are not in a rush, the Good Guys car show is coming up next weekend at the Alameda Fair Grounds, in Pleasanton and you may be able to get some information on machine shops/mechanics there. I also live in Pleasanton and will be attending that show. If you plan on going, let me know and we can meet up. Thanks.

Thank you, and I will let you know if I get out there!

 

[Verdoro 68]

Appreciate it, geeteeohguy

Good Guys is usually slim picking for Pontiac parts, but I know where a spare set of d-port RA manifolds are if push comes to shove

I was telling GoatWood over PM that my first inclination was to say "come over and we'll fix it in an afternoon!" but that can be a trap if you don't know exactly what's going on. My good intentions have gotten me in trouble with wife, friends and friend's wives a number of times LOL.

 

[GoatWood]

My good intentions have gotten me in trouble with wife, friends and friend's wives a number of times LOL.

We definitely don't want that!



Thanks for everyone's input here, really good stuff.

 

[ylwgto]

Try Driven Garage in Oakland. They helped me with my '66 when I did a 4 wheel disc brake swap and got stuck. Very solid shop that only works on classics. You'll pay for it though.

 

[geeteeohguy]

I lived in Oakland for 40 years. Moved to Fresno in 2003. I sure like the space to breathe out here!! LOL....

 

[RMTZ67]

I wish I had a better option to work on my own car, but I don't have a lift and this job seems like it would definitely be easier with one!

Easy is not in a vocabulary of a 50+ year car owner. usually more like this