Thread: Replacing head gaskets

Trying to tear the heads off on my car. Do I need a special tool to get to the bolts on the underside of the stock exhaust manifold? Seems that there's no way I can reach them with the runners being directly over them.

some of us have larger-than-normal wrenches because our local hardware stores fail. :P

is that it? i just need a smaller wrench to reach those two bolts?

take the mani's off would be the easiest way

You should find that the exhaust manifolds need to come off and if the two end studs stay in the head, those should be removed as well. Then you will have good access to all the bolts.

i'm trying to remove the manifold. that's what i'm saying. there are four bolts on the bottom side of it that are bolting it to the heads or the block, not sure which, but two or three i can't get.

i got the bolt farthest to the right. just had to take off the engine mount bracket to get to it. no exhaust runners are over that bolt, so it was easy to take off with a ratchet.

the rest of the bolts are directly under each runner. with a wrench i have maybe an inch of room til the wrench hits one of the runner pipes, so i don't have very much room to get a good tugging angle on to break the bolt.

did you guys access these bolts from underneath the car or do i just need a ratchet wrench or what?

i guess i could just take a picture too. heh

There should not be any problem with getting a socket onto the bolt/stud of the exhaust manifolds.

If you are trying to remove the head bolts, you need to remove the exhaust manifold first.

ah i see now. alrighty, thanks!