Help Fitting Inlet Manifold

[floyd]

Hi All, I need your help again, from what I understand it's possible to replace the inlet manifold gaskets without loosening off the cylinder heads.
I've stuck the gaskets to the inlet manifold with hylomar and tried to refit the manifold but I can only get one side to bolt down, the others look like the gasket needs to be compressed to get them to line up.
Is there an easy way to fit them, am I doing something wrong ?
The only thing I can think to do would be to open up the mounting holes in the inlet manifold a little bit to enable me to bolt it up.
Anyway thanks in advance,
Floyd.

[Des N]

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I drilled the holes out a little (think I used a 10 mm drill) to give a bit more movement. Was recommend to me on previous threads and worked.

[floyd]

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Thanks, that the reassurance I needed before attacking it with a drill.

[Des N]

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Hi Floyd

This was the thread where I picked up the drilling out from. Say's 3/8" - not sure but 10mm might be slightly smaller.

Des



http://stagownersclub.mywowbb.com/forum1/5242.html

[GDPR]

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Have you used the thick gaskets on skimmed heads? If your heads have been skimmed then the thin gaskets from Paddocks make fitment so much easier.....

Failing that, drilling out the holes makes it fit but misaligns the waterways a bit so be aware.....

Russ:dude:

[SGN]

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Floyd
If you have a strong beam above the engine, put a block of wood against the manifold and a jack it down off the beam with a bottle/scissors jack into the vee,you need to get the manifold tight into the vee or you will never seal it.
If no beam use a ratchet strap around the engine with a block of wood on the manifold.
Try this before you drill,it will probably line up.

Cheers
Steve

[robertt1948]

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Hi Floyd,

I've had to replace my manifold twice ( leaking gaskets then a leaking water pump ). I had to source thin gaskets and make a tool to force the manifold into the vee. This tool was featured in the Stag Mag a few years ago. If you are interested, I can send photos and/or you can borrow the tool. I wasn't prepared to go down the route of drilling out the bolt holes because there is precious little flange area as it is. If you've had the head skimmed you will have to have the manifold skimmed as well.

Good luck and don't rush the job!

Robert

[floyd]

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The heads haven't been skimmed or removed, I just had a gasket start leaking so brought a set of payen gaskets from LD parts which I assume are standard thickness, I'll borrow a ratchet strap and see if I can squish it down enough before I get my drill out.
Thanks,
Floyd.

[Stag Andy]

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Drill the manifold mounting holes to 3/8th and DO NOT use hylomar. Wellseal in my opinion is the only product to use. And for g*d's sake do not use ratchet straps,blocks of wood,or any other contrivance. The manifold will drop into place in the correct position,use only Payen gaskets and wellseal. Also check the mounting faces of the manifold with a straight edge to ensure they are flat.
All the best

[Gresley]

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When I refitted my manifold I drilled out the top 3/4" of the holes only as someone previously had tried to 'persuade' it into place with a hammer and made them oval:X The lower part of the holes remained the standard size and therefore lined up correctly - I hope!

Brian

[flying farmer]

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Before you try fitting the manifold with gaskets try dropping it in place with no gaskets and try around the edges of the manifold/head joint with a set of feeler guages. You may well find the manifold touches at the top and not the bottom or vice versa. I can almost guarantee the face across the rear waterway will be bent. Use a coarse file to first flatten the flanges then carefully remove any excess metal. A long file that reaches both front and rear flanges will make the job much easier. I had to remove 12 thou from the top edge of the manifold flanges to get it to sit flat. There is usually plenty of spare metal to go at and it will let the manifold sit lower in the vee. I tried this after repeated inlet gasket failures and it has been ok for years since

Neil

[mad cyclist]

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SGN wrote:

Floyd
If you have a strong beam above the engine, put a block of wood against the manifold and a jack it down off the beam with a bottle/scissors jack into the vee,you need to get the manifold tight into the vee or you will never seal it.
If no beam use a ratchet strap around the engine with a block of wood on the manifold.
Try this before you drill,it will probably line up.

Cheers
Steve

be careful nothing slips, and its worth drilling the block of wood and screwing to the beam as if it goes TWANG you could lose half your noggin.