[GoreMaker]

I'm installing a set of reproduction Ram Air cast exhaust headers on my 1977 Trans Am. I got the appropriate reproduction hardware from Inline Tube, but I'm not terribly happy with these bolts. Some are fine, but many don't engage much thread at all. The bolts are just too short. I wouldn't mind in cast iron heads, but these are going in aluminum heads. Most of the threaded holes can accommodate 3/4" of thread engagement, except for the two outer holes on each head which are limited to 1/2". But some of the bolts barely stick out past the headers by 1/4". I'm almost guaranteed to destroy the threads when I try to tighten those. Since there's only 4/5 bolts per manifold, it feels like I should be getting a lot more holding strength from each bolt than 1/4" of thread engagement in aluminum provides.

Are there studs available that could work for this? Then I could grab all the threads in every hole and not worry about stripping them. But since there's 3 significantly different bolt lengths involved, I'm not sure what kind of kit would be adequate.