Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang

chriscklam · 03-02-2007, 11:22 PM

I am in the middle of an argument with my dad. We are restoring everything off of my 66 mustang 289 V8 engine right now which is still in the engine compartment. He says that there is no way to remove the exhaust manifolds without snapping the bolts...it is inevitable. The car has been sitting for about 10 years and he might be right? He wants me to refinish the manifolds while they are still on the engine...is this possible? Anyone have any experiance with this?

DeltaMustang65 · 03-03-2007, 01:55 AM

I don't see why this would be a problem, the bolts should come right out. Heck, most people have problems with them wanting to come loose on their own.

Gearhead999 · 03-03-2007, 02:34 PM

Your friend maybe right about the breaking of them. As the heat/cool cycles go through the years the bolts rust and freeze in the cylinder heads. Yep, they snap and have to be removed. Usually drilled out. NOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

If the bolt breaks off flush with the head the manifold will come off. But, it sometimes breaks half way down or so and the manifold wouldn't come off. Either way the head usually has to come off. Not enough room to work on broken bolt, drill, chisel, etc.

You may get lucky and they'll come out. Maybe...

Good Luck

rwhite65 · 03-03-2007, 10:50 PM

It is very possible they will break off. If you decide to try it, make sure and soak them in some PB blaster. Be prepared to have to take the heads off worst case scenario though.

DeltaMustang65 · 03-05-2007, 03:57 PM

Wow. I've never heard of this happening. I guess you learn something new everyday.

Rev · 03-06-2007, 05:13 PM

While it is possible that exhaust manifold bolts may break during manifold removal, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Soak them in penetrating oil before attemting removal as rwhite suggested. Exhaust manifolds are normally unbolted each time a head is removed. I don't believe that the bolts break all that often.

Rev

rwhite65 · 03-07-2007, 05:47 AM

On my 79 Ford I was able to get them all out. On the 93 Ranger I just worked on, 3 of the 6 broke on me even after I soaked them.

Good luck

goodyear1984 · 03-08-2007, 01:32 AM

yea spray them a few time in the day and let it sit...dont try to heat it up eaither .... you can drill them out if u have to get it flush and center punch it smack dab in the middle u dont need to take the heads off to do it un less u feel more comfortable .....i just drilled out 2 on a ford escape at work and theres no room under the hood of an escape ull be fine eaither way not the end of the world

03-02-2007, 11:22 PM	#1
chriscklam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3	Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang I am in the middle of an argument with my dad. We are restoring everything off of my 66 mustang 289 V8 engine right now which is still in the engine compartment. He says that there is no way to remove the exhaust manifolds without snapping the bolts...it is inevitable. The car has been sitting for about 10 years and he might be right? He wants me to refinish the manifolds while they are still on the engine...is this possible? Anyone have any experiance with this?

03-03-2007, 01:55 AM	#2
DeltaMustang65 Knuckle-Basher Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 249	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang I don't see why this would be a problem, the bolts should come right out. Heck, most people have problems with them wanting to come loose on their own. __________________ Matt's '65 Coupe http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/deltamustang65/ If Nissan Motorsports = NISMO, wouldn't Honda Motorsports = HOMO?

03-03-2007, 02:34 PM	#3
Gearhead999 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Oviedo, FL Posts: 992	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang Your friend maybe right about the breaking of them. As the heat/cool cycles go through the years the bolts rust and freeze in the cylinder heads. Yep, they snap and have to be removed. Usually drilled out. NOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. If the bolt breaks off flush with the head the manifold will come off. But, it sometimes breaks half way down or so and the manifold wouldn't come off. Either way the head usually has to come off. Not enough room to work on broken bolt, drill, chisel, etc. You may get lucky and they'll come out. Maybe... Good Luck __________________ "Support our Troops" Dave 1968 Cougar 2004 Thunderbird 2007 F150 Harley-Davidson, SuperCrew 1986 LTD 1997 Ranger 1992 Honda Civic

03-03-2007, 10:50 PM	#4
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang It is very possible they will break off. If you decide to try it, make sure and soak them in some PB blaster. Be prepared to have to take the heads off worst case scenario though. __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

03-05-2007, 03:57 PM	#5
DeltaMustang65 Knuckle-Basher Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 249	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang Wow. I've never heard of this happening. I guess you learn something new everyday. __________________ Matt's '65 Coupe http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/deltamustang65/ If Nissan Motorsports = NISMO, wouldn't Honda Motorsports = HOMO?

03-06-2007, 05:13 PM	#6
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang While it is possible that exhaust manifold bolts may break during manifold removal, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Soak them in penetrating oil before attemting removal as rwhite suggested. Exhaust manifolds are normally unbolted each time a head is removed. I don't believe that the bolts break all that often. Rev __________________ '66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe

03-07-2007, 05:47 AM	#7
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang On my 79 Ford I was able to get them all out. On the 93 Ranger I just worked on, 3 of the 6 broke on me even after I soaked them. Good luck __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

03-08-2007, 01:32 AM	#8
goodyear1984 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: new york Posts: 482	Re: Removing Exhaust Manifolds 66 Mustang yea spray them a few time in the day and let it sit...dont try to heat it up eaither .... you can drill them out if u have to get it flush and center punch it smack dab in the middle u dont need to take the heads off to do it un less u feel more comfortable .....i just drilled out 2 on a ford escape at work and theres no room under the hood of an escape ull be fine eaither way not the end of the world __________________ 347 stroker all forged,arp everything,stud mains w/girdle,7qt pan,full roller, custom cam, aluminum heads swirl valves 5 angle valve job.quick fuel 750,areomotive pump,cobras w/nitto drags,and m/t et drags for the track, ford racing 373 gears,centerforce clutch,tko500,underdrive pulleys,bassani x-pipe,flowmasters ^best et so far 11.6 1.61 60ft coming soon 9sec et's 1992 mustang gt 2001 gmc 1500 4x4 78 century boat 92 skidoo

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