Intake Come Off!!

[Liquid_Raver]

So I am changing out the head gasket on my 92 GSX and have everything done except the Intake manifold will not come off. I have all three bolts from below the fuel rail off plus the three normal nuts and bolts that hold the intake to the head. It will not budge... I have tried rubber mallets, crow bars, staring at it blankly...

So at this point I have determined it must be something really stupid and therefore I get to prove just how deep this stupidity runs within me.

Anyone have issues like this and can shed some light on what I might be missing?



Justin

 

[Tsi_User]

try soaking them down with PB blaster/WD40 or whatever you have laying around and let it soak overnight. If that doesn't work, then try heating them up and then taking them off. Then if THAT doesn't work heat them up and try a big @ss breaker bar (be careful you don't wanna strip anything. Good luck!

 

[PokinatchaPunk]

there's the bolts above the runners and then there are ones under them. From what I can tell you are forgetting those. Trust me though they are a beeeyaaatch to get to.

 

[1Gtuner1G]

I would consider just taking the manifold/head off as an assembly, then taking the manifold off when you have the head on the bench. But since you say you have all the bolts/nuts off already, there is a metal bracket on the bottom of the intake manifold right in the middle that supports it, my guess is your missing that. One or two bolts hold that bracket onto the manifold. Feel around underneath the manifold if you can't see it, but you should be able to with the help of a light.

 

[DSMatMSU]

yes, listen to 1Gtuner1G, take the head off with the intake mani still attached... ive never even attempted to take the intake off with the head still on... either way its going to take two ppl to get the head off... and those bolts on the bottom side of the intake manifold are gonna be a bi*** to get to... like he said, there are two 14mm bolts the hold the intake manifold onto a support braket that attaches to the block...

 

[mavisky]

I remember at least 9 bolts holding the head to the manifold. Seems like you're missing a couple of them obviously. Don't forget the manifold stay under neath that connects your head to the block and has vacuum lines running through it.

 

[Liquid_Raver]

Sure enough... there are more bolts down below the intake which I cannot get to. Think I may have to cut back on the donuts... although none of my tools will get on the bolts heads good enough to get them off any ways.

So... plan B. I will go with what is suggested and take the head and intake off as one. I was trying to avoid that because 1) the site that I was reading for most of this (http://www.plymouthlaser.com/hreb.htm) said 3 bolts and 2) I didn't feel like unplugging everything from the fuel rail and wiring harness that goes over the ECI. Oh well...

Is there anything else I should be aware of that may be connected with a bolt I cannot see before I can pull the head and intake?

 

[1Gtuner1G]

As mentioned before by a moderator and myself, the intake manifold stay on the back/bottom of the manifold that connects to the block will need to be unbolted. 2 14mm bolts if I remember right.

 

[91orangeGST]

truthfuly you never even had to take of the intake or exhaust manifold to change out the headgasket. I just take it off a one piece and I also save money on the intake an d exhaust gaskets. Also I hate those little F ING bolts under the intake manifold!!!

 

[oddrob]

truthfuly you never even had to take of the intake or exhaust manifold to change out the headgasket. I just take it off a one piece and I also save money on the intake an d exhaust gaskets. Also I hate those little F ING bolts under the intake manifold!!!

As long as you make sure the head is good and flat, otherwise you might end up doing it again.

 

[Liquid_Raver]

I got it off. There are three bolts that are attached to the holding bracket. I started with the side that had two of them and almost immediately stripped one. Luckily I switched to a 9/16 on the 14MM instead and got a good grip of it.

If you don't take off the side with the two bolts then you have to disconnect the vacuum lines and a connector plug.

Now that I have it out I have to take out the cames and valves... thanks for all of your help everyone!

 

[mavisky]

Now that I have it out I have to take out the cames and valves... thanks for all of your help everyone!

Why are you removing the cams and valves to change the headgasket

 

[1Gtuner1G]

Why are you removing the cams and valves to change the headgasket

Good question, but really why are you taking the cams and valves out?

 

[Liquid_Raver]

I was taking everything off to get the head machined and pressure tested. Although I sort of wish I didn't... I have the valves and rockers, etc put back in place and now I am trying to put the cams back on.

Harder than it seems like it should be. The book says 15 ft lbs... but the cams are not seated properly. I would expect that the cam would sit all the way back down once bolted in place. I was just trying to read up on it because I don't want to damage it.