best way to take off intake manifold on 2g??

[Sephroth57]

does anyone have some advice on doing this, my gasket on from the head to intake manny is leaking badly and giving me a major boost leak. took me forever to figure out thats where its coming from becuase the leak doesnt show up in vaccum since its past the throttle body. but anyway how can i get this thing off? i got everything off except i cant reach the bottom bolts from the top theres no way to get a wrench or anything under it. so im guessing you need to take off everything on top, and then come from underneath?? but what would you have to remove from underneath to get to it? is this gonna turn into an all day project?

 

[lx2539]

the intake! its to tough to try to get the bolts from the bottom!

you have to take off the housing for the thermostate!

disconnect hoses
disconnect all the connetions!
take off intake braket on the bottom of the intake!


Thats all I can think of right now!

 

[ninjai_ruken]

Sorry about your luck, so Ill say good luck with fixing the damn thing. Dont you hate how when all you need to do is take a few bolts off there is so much more work that needs to be done to get there

 

[damax03]

You DEFINITELY DO NOT have to take off the head to do an intake manifold gasket. I really hope you have not already done so. Remove your down pipe and reach up with a rachet and swivel and you can get off the bottom bolts. Don't forget the bracket that holds up the intake that is connected to the block also. Post if you have anymore problems.

LX2539: Please edit your post so no one sees that and makes that mistake. By removing your head, you have to replace the head gasket and bolts and would cost yourself a good bit of money.

 

[lx2539]

I mis read the post ! I thought he said he needed to replace the headgasket but its gasket from the head to the intake!

Im sorry sir!

 

[Sephroth57]

You DEFINITELY DO NOT have to take off the head to do an intake manifold gasket. I really hope you have not already done so. Remove your down pipe and reach up with a rachet and swivel and you can get off the bottom bolts. Don't forget the bracket that holds up the intake that is connected to the block also. Post if you have anymore problems.

LX2539: Please edit your post so no one sees that and makes that mistake. By removing your head, you have to replace the head gasket and bolts and would cost yourself a good bit of money.

im confused why would i have to take off my downpipe? im talking about the intake manifold... like right near the firewall in the back

 

[damax03]

Unless you have some really skinny arms there isnt room under the car along the back on the engine to reach your hand up there to reach the intake bolts. Removing the downpipe gives you room to get your arm up behind the block and under the intake manifold allowing you to get the bolts off.

 

[Sephroth57]

i can just reach up there and get to them? my friend said i would have to take out the starter and possibly the AC or something. does he not know what hes talkin about

 

[damax03]

Remove the downpipe to allow your arm room to reach the bolts on the intake bolts. You DO NOT need to remove the starter or the A/C. With the downpipe removed you can get your whole arm up behind the engine and remove all the bolts pretty easily.

 

[Sephroth57]

cool thanks


also do you think a stock gasket will be ok or should i get a metal one? and anyone know who sells metal intake manny gaskets? i checked the usual DSM vendors they have exhaust and stuff but not intake

 

[damax03]

Get one from a mitsu dealer, they are a plastic covered metal. Ones you get from napa and such tend to be paper or other fiber materials and do not hold up. I don't know if they make a metal one, and have never seen one, which tells me that neither you nor I need one.

 

[Sephroth57]

yeah i picked one up from napa but it looks like crap, it was cheap anyway. ill see about getting one from mitsu. thanks

 

[ninjai_ruken]

I kinda miss read it also but I dunno I still stand by that fact that working on shit were you have to remove more shit just to reach what you want sucks ass

 

[espinelli]

does anyone have some advice on doing this, my gasket on from the head to intake manny is leaking badly and giving me a major boost leak. took me forever to figure out thats where its coming from becuase the leak doesnt show up in vaccum since its past the throttle body. but anyway how can i get this thing off? i got everything off except i cant reach the bottom bolts from the top theres no way to get a wrench or anything under it. so im guessing you need to take off everything on top, and then come from underneath?? but what would you have to remove from underneath to get to it? is this gonna turn into an all day project?

Your best bet would be to use a Sawzall. All kidding aside, I think removing the downpipe is a good idea. Although, I didn't need to when I removed my 2G intake mani. I just used a wrench between the runners to remove the bolts. Just so you know, that does take a little time.

The problem will be when you reinstall your intake manifold you will have a difficult time tightening those bolts down and you'll probably have boost leak again. That's why it would be best to remove the down pipe and get the proper extensions to tighten the lower manifold bolts from underneath the car. No need to remove the AC or starter. Just have a buddy help you from overhead.

 

[1fast97gsx]

just pull the engine and then you can easily reach the bolts.

all you have to remove is MAYBE the downpipe ( I didn't ) and obviously the fuel rail and injectors and those wiring harneses. Theres a few vaccum lines but then that's about it. There's a bracket attached to the block that has 2 bolts that connect to the intake manifold which need to be removed from the bottom ... don't forget those!!

 

[damax03]

The downpipe has a lot to do with its size and design.

 

[espinelli]

The downpipe has a lot to do with its size and design.

Don't understand what you mean. Unless that's sarcasim.

 

[damax03]

Don't understand what you mean. Unless that's sarcasim.

Well, if you has a stock downpipe which was a narrow diameter there would be more room to reach up behind the motor, but a 3" downpipe would cut down on the amount of room to reach through significantly. And depending on what kind of angle your downpipe is routed, you may or may not have a good angle to reach up behind the motor with.

 

[espinelli]

Well, if you has a stock downpipe which was a narrow diameter there would be more room to reach up behind the motor, but a 3" downpipe would cut down on the amount of room to reach through significantly. And depending on what kind of angle your downpipe is routed, you may or may not have a good angle to reach up behind the motor with.

It didn't seem like you were comparing a stock DP w/ a 3" DP. Makes sense. Either way, your still better off removing the DP because it will make the job shorter, easier and provide a sense of security that the lower intake manifold nuts are properly tightened to prevent another potential leak.

Also, when most guys replace thier intake mani gasket or upgrade from a 2G intake to a 1G or a SMIM they normally have leaks between the head and intake mani because its difficult to tighten everything down. Actually, I take that back about the SMIM, because its very easy to secure from above when you upgrade to a SMIM.

 

[DSMJim]

It took me 1.5 hours to take off my stock intake manifold working completly from the top. It's really not that big a deal. Just start doing it and you will see exactly what you need to do as you go. Just start with taking your intercooler pipe off and your fuel rail, follow the wiring back, take off the vaccum hoeses etc and eventually you'll have nothing left but a manifold in your hands.

Honestly it's a simple but tiem consuming job. The bottom bolts on the manifold are a PITA but not impossible. You will have no problems.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

ask someone if you can borrow a swivel socket extension or swivel sockets. They are 14mm bolts if my memory serves me correct. Makes like easier.

 

[damax03]

It didn't seem like you were comparing a stock DP w/ a 3" DP. Makes sense. Either way, your still better off removing the DP because it will make the job shorter, easier and provide a sense of security that the lower intake manifold nuts are properly tightened to prevent another potential leak.

Also, when most guys replace thier intake mani gasket or upgrade from a 2G intake to a 1G or a SMIM they normally have leaks between the head and intake mani because its difficult to tighten everything down. Actually, I take that back about the SMIM, because its very easy to secure from above when you upgrade to a SMIM.

Thats why I suggested that it should get removed in the first place.

 

[na90dsm]

ive been there. itll take alift and a good arm to reach it. im not doing it in a driveway without some serious lift off the ground. have any of you actually doen it on a damn paved driveway?


ill see about a lift. i cant do it from under hood

also ive done intake mani changes on a 1g without having to go underneath the car. going under a 2gin a driveway will suck. ac comressor and starter are kinda in the way. i may be able to do it with a swivel but i will haveto see.

any pointers to anyone who has doen it. no responses from newbs either please. i want pointers form expereinced people only. thanx

 

[DSMJim]

WOW. Did nobody read my post? Maybe look up about 4 posts or so? IT CAN ALL BE DONE ON THE GROUND FROM THE TOP. It is not hard to remove and is a 1.5 hour job. You can literally do the whole re-re after you get home from work with enough time to clean up and go out for beers afterwards.

Here is my Magnus SMIM install tech article: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96388

That will guide you thought some of the process so you can see how it is. The bottom bracket and bolts underneith can all be done from the top with relitave ease. The whole job takes a 10mm 12mm and 14mm stockets. Hell you can almost take our whole cars appart with those an a 17mm.

 

[Sephroth57]

jim i read your post, i already attempted this like 2 weeks ago before i posted about this, i had everything off, fuel rail, vaccum lines, etc. but i really could not find a way to reach my hand in from the top, can you explain which direction you stuck your hand in, if you used a socket or open ended, cause really i dont see how its possible