Rusty Exhaust Manifold...

[Guest SmokingMesaMan]

Alright guys,

 

Cracked exhaust manifold, plenty of good condition second hand ones laying around, seem simple to fit.

 

However the one on is, as expected, rusty. The bolts holding it in are only thin so I don't want to snap them. Is there a good technique in getting old rotters off? Anything I can put on them - WD40 Etc?

 

Thanks,

Rob

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Not WD40 but a decent penetrating oil such as Plus Gas continuously over a wek or so before you try it & as bad as it might seem ,loosen them off with a warm engine.

 

Graham.

[Guest SmokingMesaMan]

Not WD40 but a decent penetrating oil such as Plus Gas continuously over a wek or so before you try it & as bad as it might seem ,loosen them off with a warm engine.

 

Graham.

 

 

Cheers Graham, last thing I need is to bugger the engine!

(mind you a nice 16v conversion might be nice)

[mickie 3]

im trying to get mine out at the mo, they're all rusted in too and rounded off but ive got the top set of nuts off with some mole grips but cant get at the rounded off nuts under the exhaust manifold, also my engine cant be started to heat it up as its not apart of the car anymore.. would a blow torch be ok to heat it up ? and is there something better i could use to take off the nuts ?

[Pug_101 0]

Not WD40 but a decent penetrating oil such as Plus Gas continuously over a wek or so before you try it & as bad as it might seem ,loosen them off with a warm engine.

 

There are also some new freeze type sprays on the market (Locite do 1 you can get in halfords) that break the rust bond and allow easier removal. Have not tried them yet so can't fully recomend.

What size are the nuts 13mm? If so try using 1/2" as it's a thighter fit and also 6 sided sockets are better for this job.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

im trying to get mine out at the mo, they're all rusted in too and rounded off but ive got the top set of nuts off with some mole grips but cant get at the rounded off nuts under the exhaust manifold, also my engine cant be started to heat it up as its not apart of the car anymore.. would a blow torch be ok to heat it up ? and is there something better i could use to take off the nuts ?

A blow torch would be OK but if you can borrow a nut splitter then this is even better imo.

 

What size are the nuts? 13mm tend to come off but the 10/11mm ones are a lot more prone to rounding off & shearing the studs.

 

Graham.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Buy a set of stud extractors - these normally grip the rounded off nuts.

[Veero 1]

Also it's always best to use 6-point sockets on these old nuts.

 

When the manifold on my 89k miles F plate cracked, we soaked the nuts in Plusgas, went and had a cuppa came back used a 6 point socket and they all came straight off with no rounding.

 

Veero

[SweetBadger 94]

If the nuts are corroded I find that hammering a slightly smaller imperial ring spanner on to them can help get a tight fit, then you can stick a pipe or similar over the end of the spanner to increase the leverage if they are really stubborn...

 

Can't remember what size spanner though.

[Grim.Badger 15]

Just done mine and used Loctite "Freeze n Release" or whatever it's called. I would highly recommend it as the studs came out as if they'd only just been put in! The nuts were another mater and three had rusted solid to the studs, but they pulled the studs out with them so I didn't really care

I only rounded one nut, but the previous owner had rounded to two bottom central ones, and snapped another stud. I used a chisel to split the nuts, a 1.5 foot chisel for the lower ones so that I could reach up under the engine. With the loctite stuff you can remove the studs by just locking two new nuts togther on the stud. I also didn't bother with a hot engine, or soaking for weeks before, just 10 seconds spray then leave for a couple of minutes.

 

Can you tell I was impressed by the stuff

[steve@cornwall 100]

If the nuts are corroded I find that hammering a slightly smaller imperial ring spanner on to them can help get a tight fit, then you can stick a pipe or similar over the end of the spanner to increase the leverage if they are really stubborn...

 

Can't remember what size spanner though.

 

three eighths imperial socket for the 10mm nuts, may need "persuading" on with hammer.

[DaveW 6]

Buy a set of stud extractors - these normally grip the rounded off nuts.

 

oh yes makes any rusted nut job no problem with them.

[mickie 3]

the top nut that was rusted and stuck came out easy with a 3/8" socket and the two nuts at the bottom in the middle came out with a 3/8" offset ratchet ring spanner

 

 

thanks for all the help guys

Edited June 21, 2006 by mickie