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  View original topic: Muffler to Head nuts question
Snoopy1971 Wed Jul 09, 2025 12:56 pm

I was watching a vid of somebody assembling their engine, and they put their muffler to head nuts on like this:



Is this correct? When I recently reassembled my engine, I put them on the opposite way (I hadnt paid attention to how they were on when I took it apart). I put them on the opposite way because I figured the partially connected round part was supposed to act as like a built in lock washer.

If the pic above is indeed showing the correct installation, then what is tge purpose of the partially connected round part?

Glenn Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:09 pm

The picture is correct. That's a locking ring on the nut.

KTPhil Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:14 pm

The threads of the main nut and the ring are not quite aligned. So when you screw it on a stud, the change in thread engagement distorts the nut, making it grip harder and therefore it will not loosen so easily; no separate locknut is needed.
I use anti-seize on the stud threads so it doesn't rust in place, even with copper or brass nuts.

Snoopy1971 Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:29 pm

Ok ... interesting ... thanks all!!

baldessariclan Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:37 pm

Snoopy1971 wrote:
If the pic above is indeed showing the correct installation, then what is tge purpose of the partially connected round part?
Just to clarify, those "copper" nuts are actually copper-plated steel. The copper outer plating is used to help keep them from corroding and seizing under high temperature conditions.

LeeFred Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:38 pm

When we first got our SB, there were regular nuts on there and they all came loose. When I put those VW lock nuts on there, no more issues.

Cusser Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:13 pm

I use the brass nuts that utilize an 11mm wrench on mine. Same 8.0mm x 1.25mm thread.
Even Amazon sells them https://www.amazon.com/Exhaust-Clearanced-Brass-Co...&gQT=1

Snoopy1971 Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:35 pm

Cusser wrote: I use the brass nuts that utilize an 11mm wrench on mine. Same 8.0mm x 1.25mm thread.
Even Amazon sells them https://www.amazon.com/Exhaust-Clearanced-Brass-Co...&gQT=1


Yeah my spark plug socket was hitting the 13mm intake nuts, so I replaced them with these 10mm nuts with a 13mm flange base

https://a.co/d/1kuGXaL

my3bugs Wed Jul 09, 2025 3:05 pm

i have used those copper plated steel lock nuts in the past , they held great untill it was time to come apart and they took out a few studs with em . maybe just a quirk .

runamoc Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:56 am

Quote: regular nuts on there and they all came loose
my head 'studs' were long enough so that I could double nut them

Glenn Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:04 am

runamoc wrote: Quote: regular nuts on there and they all came loose
my head 'studs' were long enough so that I could double nut them
Long studs on the #1 and #3 lower studs can hit the bend of the heater boxes.

runamoc Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:20 am

Quote: Long studs on the #1 and #3 lower studs can hit the bend of the heater boxes.
Heater boxes? The long studs don't interfere with the bends in my 'Bazooka' exhaust.

Here hold this while I paint it w/BBQ Grill paint




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