V6 headers mounting question

Cutty1987 said:

These are the bolts, some bigger than others, and some have extra nuts on them..

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Are you replacing the manifolds with headers? Either way, use high quality gaskets. Headers often come with new bolts. The stock manifolds generally are thicker than the header flanges, so you need shorter bolts. I'm speaking generally since I'm not an expert on the 3.8.

Turbo buick guys run individual copper gaskets, that seal the factory headers pretty good, even with the massive backpressure the turbine creates.

Some of those bolts look a little long for headers.

The stock ones are exhaust manifolds. You definately need to use gaskets. I recommend using the copper gaskets UNGN referred to. On your stock bolts, it looks like you have three different lengths so it definately matters where they go. The bolts that are double ended studs are for bolting stuff like brackets to the engine at that location so it matters where they go. Hopefully another member with a stock N/A 3.8 can snap some pics for you to help you get it back together right.

Cutty1987 said:

I hope so.. that would help out so much.. but ok sweet.. will get the gaskets later, it just trips me out because there was no gasket at all.. just both sides, bolted up..

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I have heard of certain engines where there are no gaskets between the head and the exhaust manifold. I would not put it back together that way.