REPLACING MANIFOLD GASKET

[OLTWOPOP]

I have a 1947 B that the manifold gasket is bad what is the best way to remove the old one? The nuts are just about rusted clean off. If I grind the nuts off I bet the studs are rusted tight in the manifold. I"m aware that the push rod tubes is under the studs and not to drill through them. But how do I get the manifold off the old studs? Is there an easy way?

 

[S.Crum]

Easiest and least destructive way I've found is to grind the nuts off the manifold then heat the manifold and drive it up the studs with a heavy hammer and block of hardwood. Use a sawzall and cut the studs off below the manifold then slide the manifold out from under the fanshaft. Soak the cut off studs in the head with blaster or another penetrant, and let set the longer the better. Then clamp a GOOD or new pair of visegrips on the cut off stud and start working it back and forth (in and out) and keep it up as you work the cut off stud out. Usually after 1 full turn, the stud will turn out pretty easy. Cleanout the threads and the ports and the gasket faces and clean up the manifold and make sure the new studs you bought move freely in the manifold holes. Install the new gasket and set the manifold in place with the studs in the manifold and thread sealant on the studs where they thread into the head. Thread the studs down into the head as far as you can without forcing them then thread on the top nuts and torque them to the book. Re-torque them after a couple warm up and cool down cycles, and you should be good as new.

 

[OLTWOPOP]

s.crum
That sounds like a good way to do it. I knew someone out there could help.


Thanks OLTWOPOP

 

[Anonymous-0]

It would be to your advantage to put a straight on the manifold AND head before reassembling. It might save you a lot of headaches later

 

[Anonymous-0]

Do as Steve says, but if you have access to a torch outfit, heat those studs red hot and let them cool. They will come out a lot easier. You can also weld a nut to those remaing studs, the heat transfer will help in the removal process and also give you something to put a socket on.

 

[Skyhawk Greg]

"and thread sealant on the studs where they thread into the head." Easy to overlook, but great advice from s.crum!

One last side note. State of the art back then, was to shellac gaskets. Today, much better products exist. For something like this, I would use Permatex Ultra Grey P/N 82194.

Greg