manifold on ford 3000

[svenandersen]

I wasn't paying attention while plowing snow and my exhaust pipe caught a tree limb. Bend the exhaust pipe but then noticed it cracked off part of the top of the manifold-damn! Are there any tricks to getting these manifold bolts out that have been in there for 40 years?

 

[Welding man]

Very Carefully!!! Pulled one off a 9700 this week. Only broke 3 out of 12.

 

[Wm. Neal]

Give them a good soaking with WD40,let sit overnite. Prior to trying to turn them, give a good single whack with a blunt end chisel or steel rod & hammer. I'm not sure if having a "hot engine" might also be better--ie studs may be lengthened a bit when hot. Good luck!

 

[Fordfarmer]

They usually come out OK, even though the heads look terrible. Penetrating oil can help - I prefer PB Blaster to wd40.

 

[svenandersen]

Thanks for your advice guys!

 

[KV Bruce]

Six point socket!!

 

[Jetbird]

I replaced the manifold on my '68 3400 gasser recently. I used a six-point socket as mentioned, but the bolt heads had rusted away enough so the socket fit pretty loose. Next smaller socket wouldn't go on but one of my metric sockets was a good fit. Mine came out pretty easy. Good luck to you.

 

[Texasmark1]

I too use the PB with excellent results.

I have my best luck with an impact wrench. Ensure that you set the hammer intensity to fit the bolt. On those, with a wrench scale of 1-5 I wouldn't go over 3.

I have broken numerous old bolts off over the years with a wrench, but never with an impact.

On the bad heads of the bolts, just take a file and clean them up till you can get the impact socket over them.

HTH,
Mark

 

[RodinNS]

I've never had any trouble removing those bolts. Just get a socket tight on there and they come out fine without penetrant. You might smack the bolt heads a few times each with a good sized hammer to stir them up a bit but that's all.

Rod