I just successfully stripped out a threaded hole in a head that holds the
exhaust header on my vanagon.  My father-in-law is very knowledgable about
this sort of thing so I'll be asking him what to do.

I suspect I'll have to tap it out at the next larger size and get a new
sized stud to match.

This is the stud that is right under the water pump.  (at a glance, that's
what it looked like from underneath)  I had to remove the studs so I could
take off the header without removing the pump.  I foolishly overtightened
the stud.  Anyhow, I say all this because I want to retain the ability to
remove the stud if I need to again... although I don't anticipate ever
needing to replace this pipe again.  Worse case I could epoxy/JB
weld/whatever it into the head.  I don't like that idea at all though.

I notice that one of the PO's had a stud replaced.  For that reason it looks
as though I'm going to have to enlarge on of the holes on the front header.
It won't fit on the way it should.

Needless to say, replacing my exhaust has turned into more that just a quick
evening job.  :)  Luckily I have a sense of humor!!

Bradley Flubacher
State College, PA