>If the mechanic was not versed at drilling out studs in place, you
>should have been informed. This is really a machinist, not normal
>mechanic skill. It sometimes happens that a proper repair requires head
>removal. If you weren't willing to take that step, then a butcher repair
>may be appropriate to by some time. In general, only the VW's have this
>difficulty with exhaust removal. The combination of poor hardware
>quality with very high temperatures most likely due to the lack of a
>real cast iron manifold makes for difficult parts removal.

Poor design, poor quality.

Motorcycles don't have exhaust manifolds; the headpipes bolt straight
to the head with 2 studs per pipe. Never seem to give any trouble.

Of course it would be possible to MAKE a headpipe fitting (preferably
in stainless) to be permanently bolted to the head, with headpipes
attaching to this, but it would be a custom design.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

DEMOCRACY: RULE BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR