Little trick to doing a one-man manifild swap.

[shore]

So we have all done manifolds and the biggest issue is the weight of the suckers when putting them back on.You have to hold up 40lbs with one hand and line up the gaskets and not cross thread the bolt....not to mention lets not drop it on the plugs!

Well everyone once in a while you come across a simply obvious solution to a PITA job.

Buy two 1' sections of all thread that match the manifold bolt size.or long bolts and cut the heads off.When you take the outer two manifold bolts replace them with the all thread.You're not gonna leave them in there you're just going to let the hold the manifold for you when you go to put the manifolds back on.Slide the gaskets over the all thread and then slide the manifold on...tighten the center studs down and then pull the all thread out and put your last bolts in.

No holding aligning or breaking plugs.
:smt038:smt038:smt038

 

[H2ONUT]

Great tip! And it works perfect!! Used this trick 2 years ago when replacing the manifolds.

 

[Quint4]

oldie but goodie.

 

[Russ Calasant]

Yeah, I used that old trick this weekend and it worked great.

 

[magredoak]

A mechanic that worked on my boat used another trick. He cut out the bottom of the gasket bolt hole so that he could stick one bolt through the gasket on one end, and then swing the gasket down onto the second bolt. It should have worked, but he didn't get it down quite far enough, and after a few months, I had a gasket leak. Still under warranty, though, and I watched the repair. OK now.

 

[NorCal Boater]

I just replaced manifolds a while back and used studs that I made to help with the removal and installation.

If you use this method cutting of the gasket bolt hole is not necessary. Below are 2 pics showing the studs prior to replacing the manifolds. In one of the pictures you can see the graphite gasket in place on the studs.

 

[Redhook98]

Works when lining up bell-housings also.

 

[blackbeard]

Thanks guys, as I am replacing manifolds now.