Exhaust manifold gaskets

[SashaG]

Hi all,

lately I've been hearing loud roaring from under the bonnet, and I found out the exhaust manifold gaskets were gone (BTW, my exhaust has now broken in and is quieter).
Does anyone know how much work does it involve to have them changed (I don't feel I could do it myself)? Is it harmful to drive like this for a week or two?

Cheers,
Sasha

[Suterman]

its easy to replace them without even removing the manifold,

Simply undo all the manifold nuts, using the 2 nuts locked into each other method extract the studs from the head, carfully prod out the out gaskets, and using a couple of nails to locate, refit new gaskets (be sure you have them the right way round/up!) then refit the studs and hey presto!!

Make sure you do the studs up nice and tight and use new locking washers and nuts on the refitting.

I did this last week, took about 3 hours.

[SashaG]

In the FAQ there's a lot of talk about broken exhaust manifold bolts - how likely do you think this is to happen?

Cheers,
Sasha

BTW Suterman, nicely modded wagon! How many HP do you get?

[Suterman]

there is a chance, is it a turbo car? if not then its probalbly just as quick to remove the monifold completley, with turbo cars its not so simple, you would have to remove the turbo oil feed and water lines (refitting the oil return is a nightmare) also you would need to get the manifold bracket off (very tricky with a car fitted with oil cooler adaptor where the filter screw into, but easier if the filter screw straight into the block) I would advise you to use lots of WD40 penetrating fluid and be careful when removing the studs if they do break it means removing the head to drill them out or extract them with tapered extractors.

thanks for the compliment, its currently running 195 hp and 260ftlbs @ 4000rpm. thats why its getting a 3" exhaust.