Head / Exhaust manifold removal - is it possible to.....

[debaron]

Is it possible remove the cylinder head(s) with the exhaust manifold still attached?

Want to take my heads off but undoing the exhaust manifold is a total git without access from underneath (which I don't have)!


Thanks

Ryan

[debaron]

Bump..

Anyone?

[spend]

Not withstanding pouring excess coolant from the heads into the engine and possibly muck / st / grit.... I always lift them outwards when removing, but I think you'll have to go inwards with the manifolds attached.

Some of the head bolts may also be inaccessible with the manifolds on as well.

Probably doable, but could be harder work, more secondary work created.. than fighting off the manifold bolts I'd say.

[wilfandrowlf]

I tried to do the same but in my case it was impossible.
I couldn't get the head bolts undone because the flanges of the manifold got in the way.
Nice idea but not possible I'm afraid.
Totally agree about access to the exhaust bolts though (another visit from the "ministry of C**p design" me thinks!)

Good luck

[Simon says]

wilfandrowlf said:

I tried to do the same but in my case it was impossible.
I couldn't get the head bolts undone because the flanges of the manifold got in the way.
Nice idea but not possible I'm afraid.
Totally agree about access to the exhaust bolts though (another visit from the "ministry of C**p design" me thinks!)

Good luck

I stand corrected,very sorry about that Debaron I have withdrawn my previous post I had wrongly assumed is was do-able

[debaron]

No probs simon. Guess I'll have to have a rethink then. Looking forward to skinned knuckles and a sore back!

Thanks

R

[Alexdaredevilz]

debaron said:

No probs simon. Guess I'll have to have a rethink then. Looking forward to skinned knuckles and a sore back!

Thanks

R

I feel your pain, im also going to be attempting this again soon

[spend]

Simon says said:

I stand corrected,very sorry about that Debaron I have withdrawn my previous post I had wrongly assumed is was do-able

It's one of these may/not situations, different heads (10/14 bolt) & the manifolds have subtly different designs as well as the 'made by hand' variances. Even getting them off/out when everything unbolted could be quite a different experience depending on chassis / body alignment (and some of that seemed to be affected by different details in the body moulds - but that is more apparent on Griffs but I have a feeling it might only be early chims particularly affected in that area?). Don't be confused either with the Griffs which have a bit more access room at the rear against the bulkhead, but that also varies across Chim age (like separate air vent pipe or embeded in tub/dash...).

Damned if you do, damned if you don't when it comes to actually doing it on a particular car

[neal1980]

Cant be done as said above, I tried before you cant get to some of the head bolts.

Im about to remove mine again soon, but gonna pull the engine out instead I reckon it would be quicker lol

[Simon says]

spend said:

Simon says said:

I stand corrected,very sorry about that Debaron I have withdrawn my previous post I had wrongly assumed is was do-able

It's one of these may/not situations, different heads (10/14 bolt) & the manifolds have subtly different designs as well as the 'made by hand' variances. Even getting them off/out when everything unbolted could be quite a different experience depending on chassis / body alignment (and some of that seemed to be affected by different details in the body moulds - but that is more apparent on Griffs but I have a feeling it might only be early chims particularly affected in that area?). Don't be confused either with the Griffs which have a bit more access room at the rear against the bulkhead, but that also varies across Chim age (like separate air vent pipe or embeded in tub/dash...).

Damned if you do, damned if you don't when it comes to actually doing it on a particular car

Certainly agree with the bulk head bit there Dave my brothers car as not got the optional ventilation fan and he as more room around the back of he's engine he also as a different bulkhead even though the

our cars are registered 2 months apart (TVR thing i guess) to be honest I really cant see all the fuss about removing exhaust manifolds I have not come across any RV8's with seized bolts either(could see this being a major problem though)guess I have been lucky and I have done a number of cars now its not as if I have small hands