Manifold removal help
 

Any good ideas on how to remove a manifold when the 4 nuts won't budge? I haven't seen much on the forum when I searched. Air driver? Heat?
Thanks for your ideas!

Re: Manifold removal help
 

Try propane torch heat and tapping after a liberal soaking with PB Blaster, maybe overnight or longer. Turn clockwise slightly fist, then try to back them out, working back and forth.

Of course, be careful with open flame anywhere near fuel.

Re: Manifold removal help
 

Also, use a 1/2" drive, 6 point socket with short extension and breaker bar. Greatly reduces the possibility of rounding off the corners of the nuts. The breaker bar will allow lots of torque at a slower speed than an impact gun. More control of what you are doing.

Re: Manifold removal help
 

Tightening slightly works well for rusted threads as mentioned above and in addition if you are turning counter clockwise and nut starts to squeak, stop, get some more PB Blaster on it and turn clockwise a little then continue CCW.

This sounds counter productive but doing so will clear some of the rust dust from between the threads. Similar to when using a tap to cut threads it clears the metal chips from the threads so that you do not damage the new threads and jam the tap in the hole.

You may have to go CW, CCW many times if they are really rusted.

Resist the tempation to use an impact wrench ... it is too easy to break the studs as you cannot feel or hear the squeak with all the noise.

Re: Manifold removal help
 

Thanks for the suggestions- Always appreciated.

Re: Manifold removal help
 

PB Blaster and a breaker bar did the trick. Glad it's off because one of the ears was broken and a large piece of the exhaust manifold's first port was broken- lots of air loss!!!
Off to get a replacement- Should I get a new intake manifold too in case the old and new don't match up flush? I don't think it was ever sanded/machined but I'm thinking better safe than sorry at this point.
Any trick to putting the new one on? Cleaning out the holes on the head?? Or something? I'm not a mechanic and haven't done this before.
Thanks!
Chuck

Re: Manifold removal help
 

If you're only buying the one ck the alignment/flatness to the one not being replaced. You may have to "true" them up. OR take a chance on buying both and maybe NOT having to have them machined "true". I believe you'll want to tighten the two inner nuts first and then the outers. Do a search as there was a discussion here a week or so ago about the washers and torquing.

Paul in CT

Paul in CT

Re: Manifold removal help
 

I had no problem getting the nuts off but can't get the manifold loose from the head. Any ideas on that?

Re: Manifold removal help
 

You may have already, but make sure the muffler/tailpipe is disconnected from the exhaust manifold. If it still isn't loose, you might hit the back of the manifold with a deadblow/rubber hammer to pop it loose from the gaskets.

Re: Manifold removal help
 

Sometimes if the ex manifold is badly warped downwards it will bind against the studs.Lay a straight edge even with edge of 3 front ports & the rear one will often be lower than the rest.Generaly caused by tail pipe clamp being too tight& muffler expanding in length when hot & pushing manifold forward.