Well I went to start the job today and started by cutting the driver side air tubes off of the manifold. I cant get the saw to the bolts to the y-pipe still, so I go under the car and start to cut as high as I can and the sawzaw gets grabbed by the y-pipe and throw my hand all around. Then I try to loosen the manifold bolts to the heads and WHAT A JOKE!

If anybody can offer some suggestions or tips on what they did while installing the headers and y-pipe, please chime in and help make another F-body tear up the streets lol. Thanks so much guys.

 

I take it you've got the y-pipe off and just have the manifolds to go. Spray all the bolts liberally with PB Blaster and let sit overnight. Spray again in the morning and let sit for an hour or so. Then start wrenchin'. Go ahead and remove the plugs and wires, the starter, and the A/C bracket. Everything is easier to get to with these out of the way.

Be careful with the bolts, if you twist one off, it's likey you'll have to pull the head to get it out.

When you put it back together, use nickel anti-seize on the new header bolts to help prevent this problem from happening again.

Good Luck!

 

tried to delete, this ws a doube post

 

Sometimes the manifold blt threads are the rusted together part (more like 100% of the time) and penetrating oil wont get there. Heat the area with a torch, if one isnt available use a home model propane torch and go slow. That is alot better than breaking bolts, the heat helps alot. Just dont catch anything on fire haha.

 

My Iroc was 16 years old and extenstively rusted. I let the header bolts soak in PB Oil for a few minutes, and it cut through enough to make the bolts and studs come out like butter. Sometimes that is all you need. Try that first, and if it doesnt work, then you can get a little more extreme.

 

Like they said, use PB Blaster, let it sit over night, come back and spray some more. Then go ahead and take them out. If you have to, use a 1/2" breaker bar rather than a 3/8" ratchet. But be careful! You don't want one of those bastards to break in there, you'll have a hell of a time.

 

Be careful not to round off a bolt head, these are kind of thin and the heat cycles don't help them either. Sometimes a 14mm metric socket will fit a bit better than the 9/16.

 

That's what I used... a 6 point 14mm

 

Yup im using the 14mm 6 point, Also I let the bolts soak the other night and came out the next day and sprayed again and let it sit for 2 more days and sprayed them today after only one would break loose. Maybe better luck tomarrow.