How do you get the stupid Exhaust mani off???

[MyEclipse5]

How do you? I took like 5 hours today taking everything apart, and followed directions from VFAQcom and still couldn't figure out how to get it off without taking the turbo off. (by the time i got everything off it was to late, so i had to put it all back together)

I see why people HATE working on DSMs...they put bolts/nuts in the strangest, MOST HARD TO GET places.

 

[ryu]

hahaha.... yeah dude.i found that out today.

 

[EvolvingGST]

well I hope you take off your turbo off next time, spray a lot of PB Blaster, and then drink a beer or 2 and then take off 4 bolts off the top, and one hidden within the middle of the mani. You will need to have atleast an extension. And there you go 2 hrs later and you will have your mani off... Is there a reason you want it off without taking off your turbo?

 

[xcelr8n]

do yourself a favour, replace that stock stud and nut on the turbo with a bolt, that way you wont have to remove the turbo..
also, all you have to do is disconnect the coolant line and the oil feed, bend the coolant line a little bit, and push down on the turbo... it will go down far enough that you need not remove it.

 

[carwizard1]

i got mine off in 1/2 hour without taking off the turbo. i used those racheting bocend wrenches and a normal socket set.

 

[MyEclipse5]

well I hope you take off your turbo off next time, spray a lot of PB Blaster, and then drink a beer or 2 and then take off 4 bolts off the top, and one hidden within the middle of the mani. You will need to have atleast an extension. And there you go 2 hrs later and you will have your mani off... Is there a reason you want it off without taking off your turbo?

I am only 16, no beers for me.

And yes there is a reason...im lazy.

 

[phatTSi]

It will take you probably an extra 20 minutes to pull the turbo and then the manifold no big deal. You will also have to take off you power steering pump to get to the far right bolt.

 

[El Cuervo]

I took mine exaust mani off about 2 weeks ago and this is how I did it:
Don't take your turbo off, you don't have to, unless otherwise. If the exaust manifold to head studs are in the head, then you won't be able to remove the turbo still bolted to the manifold unless you renove the 02 housing, or remove your down pipe (my experience of course :laugh: ).
Anyway, after taking off the nuts from the exaust/head nuts, unbolt the 4 bolts from the exaust mani to the turbo ( my stud was already replaced for a bolt), diaconect the all the pipes leading to the turbo (coolant and oil, I think 3 in the center between turbine and compressor housings), disconect the oil return line conected from under the center of the turbo to the oil pan. Now your turbo is only conected to your O2 housing and down pipe.
There is a piece of sh@t metal ring inside between your mani and turbo which makes the simple slide out mani removal impossible. Now, rest for a couple of minutes before prosiding and buid some power. Ok, now push down on the turbo separating the turbo from the manifold, this is why you had to remove the return pipe. If you don't have some form of vise to open the gap no problem, stick something in between the mani and turbo to keep it separeted, I used a socket to keep it open. about 1 or 1 1/2 inch of gap should do it. With pliers or 2 small sticks or your fingers if they fit, remove the metal ring, but if you use your hand, make sure you are wearing gloves and the gap is securety held so that you don't hurt yourself. Remove the gasket also. Slide out the manifold, set it aside, stand with pride infront of the engine and admire a job well done.

 

[Dieselboy]

do yourself a favour, replace that stock stud and nut on the turbo with a bolt, that way you wont have to remove the turbo.

Definitly get that stud out of there, its only there to be a PITA. Soak it with WD40 or PB Blaster, then take a beefy set of vise grips to it and back it out (did this with the mani on). If worse comes, just disconnect the lines to push the turbo down more (helps to have a friend handy) and slide the mani off.

Either way, replace that stud with a matching fourth bolt to make this an easy process next time.

 

[TurboGeoff]

You are trippin!!!

DSMs are some of the easiest cars to work on, the turbo is right in the friggin front of the car.

If you think workin on a DSM is hard, try workin on a 3000gt, 300zx, or a LS1, then tell me DSMs are hard to work on.

Should take 30 minutes max to remove the whole turbo/manifold assembly. With the right tools of course.

-Geoff