how do you get exhaust manifolds off

[89LincolnTWNcar]

i used the hacksaw to get off the passenger side, gotta do the drivers side now.

[Stu]

$20 shorties?

Where are you shopping?

I bought my twenty dollar specials off eBay.

[Freshmeat]

$20 shorties?

Where are you shopping?

[Stu]

I got them for a 78-79 truck with a 351M.

I happened to aquire them thur the store (defect) cause they werent for the vehicle that the guy ordered them for, and were used.

I took em home

I gotta redrill the flanges a bit, and prob cut some, but I will keep everyone posted...

Is there any reason you are going to go through all that pain and agony for a 2 or 3 hp gain on $20 shorties?

[Grand Marquis GT]

I got them for a 78-79 truck with a 351M.

I happened to aquire them thur the store (defect) cause they werent for the vehicle that the guy ordered them for, and were used.

I took em home

I gotta redrill the flanges a bit, and prob cut some, but I will keep everyone posted...

[Freshmeat]

What longtubes did you order? Will they require any cutting?

[Grand Marquis GT]

I don't think I will have many problems this week when I start to remove mine, to install my longtubes...

[Freshmeat]

I was able to easily access all the manifold-to-head bolts on mine... but I'm running Mustang stock "headers" and I have a warm-air intake that only required loosening one screw to remove.

I also didn't need any swivel anything for the manifold-to-pipe bolts... but my entire exhaust has been replaced.

Thinking about it, after this, the driveshaft and rear axle will be the only stock parts on the drivetrain... and even those will be replaced before long.

[gadget73]

I found that you can get most of the manifold to head bolts out with a flexi socket and long extension right through the wheel wells. Saves some scrapes on your arms.

[88grandmarq]

I am still confused as to which bolts you are talking about. the bolts that hold the pipe to the manifold? or the bolts that hold the manifold to the head? I either case, both are not terribly difficult to get off.

if it is the bolts that hold the pipe to the manifold and you dont plan on using the stock pipes anymore, just cut the pipe 3"-4" behind the manifold and be done with it.

[Mercracer]

You guys don't understand, I CANNOT get to my bolts, there IS NO WAY.

Unless you have a 1 of 1 car with the special stealth exhaust bolt package, you CAN get to them. Whether you have the right socket/extension/swivel combination or not is another question. The sockets with an integral swivel often are the ticket.

[Mercmarquis]

He also has a 4 cat h pipe. I took one look at the one on my vic and said F it and got the sawzall!

[grandpaslincoln]

Dude, I did it, it was easy. Course once I got my fat hands squeezed between the heater box and the manifold, I discovered that none of the bolts were tight, I could unscrew them with my fingers

[Lincolnmania]

if you arent saving the pipes, the sawzall works well :chainsaw:

[gadget73]

Unless your car is dramaticly different than any other, the flange bolts should actually be pretty simple to get at. long extension and an 11/16 (or 16mm, whatever) socket with a swivel and you can get them. I used a flexi-socket last time, one of the types with the flex part built in. It was a medium well, not a -deep well but they came out decently easy. The ones on my car wouldn't let go and I ended up taking a die grinder to them, but the CV I pulled them on this weekend actually broke loose. If you have a torch handy, get those suckers good and hot and they'll come right apart. Get them glowing, then jam the extension+socket on it and crank away.