Well, Ive had my car for a little over 2 years now and its had the dreaded sewing machine syndrome ever since!! I finally had enough of it and decided to do something about it! I read and read and read about the easiest way to do the manifolds and the concensus (sp?) was to soak them in pb blaster. So I did! The trunk side manifold only had 3 bolts in it!! They all came out pretty easy but one of the heads snapped off. Luckily, it had enough threading to grab on with some vice grips and came out just fine! The firewall side manifold was a bear to get to of course so, I unbolted both motor mounts and the dogbone. I grabbed some ratcheting tie down straps and hooked them up to the motor and the trunk latch and lifted the motor with the jack first and then used the straps to pull it back some more. Worked out great!
So, I was able to get the stupid heat shield off finally. Keep reading for a remedy to this hassle! I got all but three bolts. The two upper left(standing behind the car) and the dreaded bolt behind the ac compressor. I figured I was done for the day after about 45 minutes trying to get that stinken thing out! So, I doused all three in pb blaster again and packed up for the day.
I searched and searched and was losing hope trying to find the elusive "s" wrench! No one had it! I do whole sale auto parts and tools. We did'nt carry it. Neither did northern tool, home depot, lowes, or sears!! I made one last attemp at harbor frieght. BINGO!!! $15 for the set with a lifetime warrenty!
Once I got this bad boy I went to work! I used it and a hammer to tap the 2 upper left bolts loose. Worked those out. Now onto my nemises! The infamous compressor bolt. Piece of cake with this thing! It went so well, I wanted to frame it when I was done! Came out just fine!
So I got the manifolds out. And suprise suprise, the front one was cracked. And from the looks of it, it had been repaired before, but not very well! Again, lucky me, I have a brother in law that welds for a living! I handed him the parts and said "Do what you do!" He had them back to me 2 days later. Now, on to porting! I went and baught the dremel tool everyone suggested which I think was part number 9903. Mybe 9910. Not much difference between the two. One is tapered and one is not. This was a tedious job! It took me about 3 days between work and house chores!! But, alas, They got done!
I wanted to try and keep the temps a little lowerin the bay so, I sprayed the manifolds down with a high temp ceramic paint out of a rattle can, and then wrapped them twice in a carbon header wrap. Im planning a 350 swap in the next 2 years so Im not planning on the paint or wrap to last too long. While I was at it, I decided to spray the heat shields with a nice flat black high temp paint as well.
Going back on was a breeze! I got 8 new bolts from a chevy dealer and on we go! Remember the front heat shield with the pain in the tuckus snap rings? The handy dandy dremel earned its keep again! All I did was grind down the little edges that keep the socket from getting in there! I just used some stainless steel nuts to secure it in place, and poof! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
So, with the manifolds welded, ported, painted, wrapped, and new gaskets in place, tightened up, and heat shields on, time to let the mounts down, and dogbone back in. Make sure everything is tight again and start her up!! OH MY GAWD! What a difference in the sound! No more sewing machine! A little deeper rumble, lower rpm's! I forgot what these things were supposed to sound like!!
Now, on to my second project! The cooler lines. While I was installing my side scoops a month or so ago, I found out my coolant lines were creased where they bend up to meet the rubber hose going to the motor. Again, suprise suprise! I read somewhere that this is an easy fix with a rubber hose, clamps, and a cutting tool. So, I drained the coolant, and got ta cuttin!
this was the drivers side!
this was the passenger side
all done!!!
I baught a hose, (sorry I dont remember the part number) that was just long enough to split for both sides. Got them on and clamped them down. I filled her back up and burped the system again. The next day, drove about 75 miles with no problem whatsoever!
I know this was a long post but I wanted to share a not so bad experience with the manifolds! I have a few little things left to do on the interior but nothing time consuming!! Thanks again for reading my first long post and hope someone got something out of it!!!
