actually its more of a manifold removal problem. I've been trying to get my manifolds unbolted for about a week now, going a little at a time. I got the driverside done in about an hour, and have spent the rest of the time on the passenger side.

Its the last three bolts on the passenger side giving me trouble. Starting with the one that the oil dipstick bracket is stuck to. That one has a nut on the end holding the bracket to the bolt, the nut is rusted on there, or stuck there some how, i cant get it off. the second on should come off after i get that metal heat guard or whatever it is out of there (its stuck there now between the dipstick tube bracket and the manifold). The last one im just haveing trouble getting at. there is a big box that looks like it has heater hoses and AC lines going into. Does this come out and/or what is it?

Anyone else ever have problems like this?

-chuck

 

that big box is big trouble

its so much easier having a heater box only installed, which made my headers install easier.

plus i delete a.i.r also.


you could remove that if want to but i wouldnt unless u want to delete a/c u could get a heater only box. which would give so much more space.

for rusted bolts i would try some the fluid that helps lossen up bolts.

 

I've used about half a can of blaster on that nut, no luck. I think if i can bust the bracket i can get the whole thing out of the head like that. Im dumpin AIR, and i just took that big silver AC thing out today. here is a pic of that bolt, if anyone has any ideas how to get that bracket busted or how do you take the dipstick tube out? will it just pull up and out?

-chuck

 

Here is the one in the back, if anyone has any ideas how to get at that it'd be extremely helpful, i cant get anything back there, bolt sticks too far out. how'd everyone else do it?

-chuck

 

oops, forgot pic.

You can see the black box on the left, the bolt is so long and close to that box that you cant fit a ratchet in there. suggestions? please? how'd you do it?

-chuck

 

The metal tabs that are wraped around the bolt...bend them over somehow. also that metal heat shield just try and bend it out of the way or rip it out of the way, you wont be using it anyways. The last bolt I got from underneath and also from the top...I used one of those angled open end wrench. Just keep at it, Its a pain but you'll get it...

once you get the bolts out the install is so much easier.

 

pb blaster is the best for gettting out rusted bolts. i use it everyday and it gets my job done quicker

 

we actually beat the **** out of the plastic housing on mine (the ac thing) to get a ratchet in there, because i plan to get a heater box soon anyway..

 

It just takes patience.

Try taking a cheap wrench the same size as the bolt...should be 9/16 on stock exhaust manifold bolts...

Cut the wrench down , and grind the end smooth so it won't slice your finger.

For stuck bolts that you have a little more access too, if soaking it with Blaster hasn't worked...

Get a small pipe wrench....if there's room enough to turn it, it will grip it.

 

I got the last bolt on the passenger side from under the car. After I had pryed the metal tabs off of it I could reach up with an ipen wrench and get it a quarter turn at a time. When that was the last bolt left I just yanked on the exahust manifiold and moved it up and down and srpayed that bolt and it eventually started to work itself out. Not the best way to do ti but it worked. As for that metal shield that gets in your way. I yust yanked and yeanked on it util a chuck of it ripped off. I was getting so annoyed at it I got violent and just detroyed it.

 

Dont forget to get the metal tabs out of the way, Those last bolts are mother ****ers to get out, Use a wrench not a wrachet because it will never work. Use a screwdriver to bend back the plates because that is what is making them not turn. Also, there is extream heat coming from the engine and those things get coked on. Use like WD-40 for 3 days, then do it, they loosen up after while, try all of these things.

 

Well i WD40d em up days in advance and they came out no probs at all. Now the only prob seems to be how to retighten the pass side rear bolt, and that i hafta take the drivers side header off to drill out the hole for 02 sensor, my mistake