Exhaust manifold removal

[Rich_NYS]

I'm planing to replace my exhaust manifold gaskets in a few months. On my previous car, I had it done at a shop but I'm planning to do this one myself.

I've seen there are a few success stories with proper soaking & heating. I'm looking for advice from those with experience successfully removing without snapping studs.

A few specific questions:

-What is the best penetrating fluid?
-Soak, heat & remove nuts(& manifolds) then soak, heat & remove studs?
-When/where is the greatest risk of snapping studs? ....when removing the nuts, or removing the studs?

I'm thinking I can start soaking now for the best chance of success in a few months. This is a southern car (no road salt,) and so far everything has been coming apart easily (no corroded fasteners.)


Thanks,

Rich

[DMCMW Dave]

I'm planing to replace my exhaust manifold gaskets in a few months. On my previous car, I had it done at a shop but I'm planning to do this one myself.

I've seen there are a few success stories with proper soaking & heating. I'm looking for advice from those with experience successfully removing without snapping studs.

A few specific questions:

-What is the best penetrating fluid?
-Soak, heat & remove nuts(& manifolds) then soak, heat & remove studs?
-When/where is the greatest risk of snapping studs? ....when removing the nuts, or removing the studs?

I'm thinking I can start soaking now for the best chance of success in a few months. This is a southern car (no road salt,) and so far everything has been coming apart easily (no corroded fasteners.)


Thanks,

Rich

1 - Kimball Torque CV. Hard to find though. Heat is really the weapon of choice.
2 - Heat the nuts bright red.
3 - When taking off the nuts. Best thing to pull the studs out is a Facom 7mm stud extractor. Also hard to find.

[Rich_NYS]

1 - Kimball Torque CV. Hard to find though. Heat is really the weapon of choice.
2 - Heat the nuts bright red.
3 - When taking off the nuts. Best thing to pull the studs out is a Facom 7mm stud extractor. Also hard to find.


Thanks Dave, much appreciated. I'll begin the hunt for those hard to find items and will lead with my "torch hand."

I decided I'm going to first quiet the exhaust before further diagnosing that odd "tapping" sound.

[David T]

Thanks Dave, much appreciated. I'll begin the hunt for those hard to find items and will lead with my "torch hand."

I decided I'm going to first quiet the exhaust before further diagnosing that odd "tapping" sound.

To get the hardware cherry red you will need an Oxy-Acetalyne torch. Even with that you should expect to replace the studs and nuts. That tapping noise might mean you also need a valve adjustment. To remove the studs you can do it with 2 nuts locked onto the stud. Heat the stud up and twist it out. If you use heat you don't need any fluid. It just burns off, smells, and increases the chance of fire.