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Snoopy1971
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2020
Posts: 250
Location: Parkville, Maryland
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 Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 12:56 pm Post subject: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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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?
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79411
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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The picture is correct. That's a locking ring on the nut.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 35797
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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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.
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Snoopy1971
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2020
Posts: 250
Location: Parkville, Maryland
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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Ok ... interesting ... thanks all!!
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baldessariclan
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Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 2018
Location: Wichita, KS
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| 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.
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Last edited by baldessariclan on Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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LeeFred
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2023
Posts: 99
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| 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. |
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Cusser
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Joined: October 02, 2006
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Snoopy1971
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2020
Posts: 250
Location: Parkville, Maryland
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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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
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my3bugs
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Joined: June 18, 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Moreno Valley
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| 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 . |
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runamoc
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 6083
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| Quote: |
| regular nuts on there and they all came loose |
my head 'studs' were long enough so that I could double nut them
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Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79411
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:04 am Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| 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.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
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runamoc
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 6083
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Muffler to Head nuts question |
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| 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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Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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