Give me strength!!
Discussion
Well I left the wedge in its garage 2 weeks ago and prayed for salvation.
Near side manifold is all fitted and wasn't too bad (nothing that a bottle of calor gas and a match couldn't fix)
Off side one brought me to tears. The old one came off with relative ease and I thought there was hope , perhaps the girl would be back on the road the same weekend. No chance, Tiredness, cold and frustration had kicked in ( I hate to admit it but maybe a bit of impatience...)
She is up in place but I just cant get the bolts to find the holes (not a problem I am often cursed with 'onest gov), I didn't realise how tight the fit is. I fear one may even be cross threaded. I stopped turning as soon as it went tight but I think the damage is done. Any ideas for a solution if I have done the worst??
To make matters worse there is about 12 mm between the manifold and the exhaust. Has anyone else had this prblem? can the exhaust be manoeuvred under the car to realign it??
I am off to have another play tomorrow with a fresh head so fingers crossed?
Wish me luck
Near side manifold is all fitted and wasn't too bad (nothing that a bottle of calor gas and a match couldn't fix)
Off side one brought me to tears. The old one came off with relative ease and I thought there was hope , perhaps the girl would be back on the road the same weekend. No chance, Tiredness, cold and frustration had kicked in ( I hate to admit it but maybe a bit of impatience...)
She is up in place but I just cant get the bolts to find the holes (not a problem I am often cursed with 'onest gov), I didn't realise how tight the fit is. I fear one may even be cross threaded. I stopped turning as soon as it went tight but I think the damage is done. Any ideas for a solution if I have done the worst??
To make matters worse there is about 12 mm between the manifold and the exhaust. Has anyone else had this prblem? can the exhaust be manoeuvred under the car to realign it??
I am off to have another play tomorrow with a fresh head so fingers crossed?
Wish me luck
The one off side bolt I had trouble with was the lowest--furthest back. I put the eazy ones in first then leaned over from the N/S & reached around the back of the engine 'blind' with the right hand & it went in a treat. There's even plenty of room to get the 14mm spaner in there & turn. 
The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind...
...
The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind...
...Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 13th February 23:10
pwd95 said:
The one off side bolt I had trouble with was the lowest--furthest back. I put the eazy ones in first then leaned over from the N/S & reached around the back of the engine 'blind' with the right hand & it went in a treat. There's even plenty of room to get the 14mm spaner in there & turn.
The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind......
Wedge pornography at its best The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind...
...Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 13th February 23:10
dickymint said:
pwd95 said:
The one off side bolt I had trouble with was the lowest--furthest back. I put the eazy ones in first then leaned over from the N/S & reached around the back of the engine 'blind' with the right hand & it went in a treat. There's even plenty of room to get the 14mm spaner in there & turn.
The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind......
Wedge pornography at its best The rest I got from top or underneath. Developed an extra set of wrists & lost some skin mind...
...Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 13th February 23:10
You might try hanging the manifold off a couple of 'easy' bolts to get it in the correct position. But then you have to take these out and start off with the 'hard' ones for the real fit. Use the bolts with the cleanest sharpest heads for these hard ones. Put them in about half-way, then start putting the others in. The annoying and tricky part is getting the gaskets in the right place too...
All ways test the bolts in the holes with the manifolds off to make sure all the threads and ok, and clean,
If any are tight either replace the bolt or re-tap both the bolt and the hole.
Remember to torque the bolts to the correct amount, don't over tight as its only ali and you can easy strip the threads.
the ones you can't get a torque wrench on, come compare the torque with a spanner with one that is torqued correctly and your get a close enough fit.
Also did you make sure the manifold mating surfaces was flat with good mating surfaces. the ones off my 400SE was a joke, and had to get them build up with weld, and re-ground flat.
Also some muppet before me had not notieced this, and just over tightened the bolts to try and cure the blowing. and stripped a few of the threads. so had to heli-coil them.
If any are tight either replace the bolt or re-tap both the bolt and the hole.
Remember to torque the bolts to the correct amount, don't over tight as its only ali and you can easy strip the threads.
the ones you can't get a torque wrench on, come compare the torque with a spanner with one that is torqued correctly and your get a close enough fit.
Also did you make sure the manifold mating surfaces was flat with good mating surfaces. the ones off my 400SE was a joke, and had to get them build up with weld, and re-ground flat.
Also some muppet before me had not notieced this, and just over tightened the bolts to try and cure the blowing. and stripped a few of the threads. so had to heli-coil them.
shpub said:
Most important thing is to use some copperslip so they come out nicely. Oh and spring washers stop them coming loose!
Yes forgot to say that, as I allways use it as a matter of corse.Also one other obvioius thing is make sure the gaskets are the right way round and you not half blocking the port.
Thanks for the advise guys.
It seems that the exhaust is not right. ACT have arranged for it to be collected next week. It is touching the starter motor chassis and gear box, all of which is stopping it sitting flush on the outlet ports. It is also over half an inch away from the exhaust itself.
I wonder if anyone else has experienced anything similar?? I am concerned that it is going to be something I have done as I figured these things are made on a jig by experts??
all in all its been annoying GRRRR
It seems that the exhaust is not right. ACT have arranged for it to be collected next week. It is touching the starter motor chassis and gear box, all of which is stopping it sitting flush on the outlet ports. It is also over half an inch away from the exhaust itself.
I wonder if anyone else has experienced anything similar?? I am concerned that it is going to be something I have done as I figured these things are made on a jig by experts??
all in all its been annoying GRRRR
BadRedWedge said:
Much easier to fit if you take the starter and o/s engine mount off, a few easy bolts save alot of time. But if its out of shape it will never fit there is only a few mm clearance.
Good Luck
Yes it's a very very tight fit so had to be right, mine also has a dent to it clear's the starter.Good Luck
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