Exhaust manifold removal

[grumpy2]

Tracing a potential head gasket problem - looks like its actually an inlet manifold leak ( thanks Brian) - I've spotted a leaking exhaust manifold. The centre one on the near side bank. Trouble is the bolts are solid even after a good soaking in plus gas

Any tips on getting the exhaust manifold off the cylinder head?

Cheers

Ps taking the opportunity to glam up the engine while the bits are off and have produced a really nice cam cover! (I think so anyway)

Cheers

Gary

[mike@thenook]

Gary,
about the only way you can do this with the head still on is by very carefully using a blow torch on the bolt and surrounding area to try and get some movement. Be very careful to ensure there are no fuel pipes anywhere near or vapour from the carbs, could be a problem!
Other than that it is head off and deal with it that way but it depends how much it is leaking.
Having said all this, if you've got an inlet manifold leak it sounds as though you may need to get the head off in any case.

Cheers,

[jleyton]

Having said all this, if you've got an inlet manifold leak it sounds as though you may need to get the head off in any case.

Err... probably not - don't put the fear of God into the poor chap

Cheers

Julian

[martin]

Tracing a potential head gasket problem - looks like its actually an inlet manifold leak ( thanks Brian) - I've spotted a leaking exhaust manifold. The centre one on the near side bank. Trouble is the bolts are solid even after a good soaking in plus gas

Any tips on getting the exhaust manifold off the cylinder head?

Cheers

Ps taking the opportunity to glam up the engine while the bits are off and have produced a really nice cam cover! (I think so anyway)

Cheers

Gary

You can't say that and not show us a picture - ah go on Martin.

[mike@thenook]

Err... probably not - don't put the fear of God into the poor chap

Cheers

Julian

May as well start with the worse case scenario.....

[elvimto]

If you have not done this try tightening the bolts first also if you can get a pair of heat resistant gloves so you do not burn your hands run the car up to temp and try to nip up the bolts and then loosen them if you cant get them to move then its a head of job.

cheers Stuart

[grumpy2]

I've been soaking them in plus gas for a good few days now. The inlet manifold is on the bench awaiting new gaskets so running is out of the question at the minute. The lower bolts are very difficult to access and I can't get any real purchase on them

I've a notion about injecting some exhaust paste between the faces where the leak is but at the minute I don't know if this is even remotely feasible.

[STAG1973]

Forget plusgas try soaking them with diesel for a while it gets everywhere (it worked for me when removing head bolts that have been in for 20 years), having said that they should come out fairly easy.

Adrian

[grumpy2]

Inlet bolts came out easy enough but the exhaust ones won't budge, like the idea about diesel but getting a small quantity might be a problem!I may have a fuel tank but it'll be for petrol. Hmmm

[Robin Searle]

Still with several feet of snow outside and temperature outside minus 24C,but fortunately having a heated garage, decided to remove my exhaust manifolds on my 73 Mk2,and have them ceramic treated. I can see from pictures that there are 7 bolts on each side to remove, any tips from those that have removed manifolds before on how to tackle the job and what else needs to be removed to access all 7 bolts on each side.
I know that this is an old topic from November 2012 but could not find a more up to date one.