My '84 AT is equipped wit haftermarket headers, that are in the way of removing the lower bellhousing cover! One of the header sides must come off. Anyone with tips on which side will be easier to access and remove?

thanks!
Tarek

 

Depends...are they MSDS headers? most likely unless they are devek ones. Do you still have an A/C compressor? the side with the easiest access is the drivers side with no compressor. On my headers, the second bolt from the front on this side is not a stud but an actual bolt tapped into the block. be carefull with it since it is difficult to back out and the threads can strip. Other than that, the drivers side is easier since on the pass side you need to remove the alternator to get better access, and in order to pull the header out you need to lift the engine a little bit. When I was pulling my engine I just went ahead and removed both headers to make things easier. What job are you doing?

 

Borys, you're thinking backwards. The passenger side has the compressor and the driver's side has the alternator, (unless you've somehow moved Illinois to Great Britain or another former Commonwealth country).

The passenger side was easier, but you'll also have to loosen the driver's side to swing it partially out of the way. The second from the front is a pain because the cylinder 1 and 5 pipes bend so sharply backwards. The stud had to be shortened (or replaced with a bolt like Borys's) and you can't back the nut out all the way without having everything else loose to move the header away from the head.

 

Thanks Borys. The PO installed the headers. I'm guessing they're Devek's. I think you have the sides confused too. I'm trying to free up the lower bellhousing in order to pull the torque tube out. Long story.

Matt, it seems like I'm better off removing the AC compressor, and the alternator and may be even the steering rack in order to have less problems with access. This the engine with a problem and will need to be pulled eventually. I just didn't want to be distracted with engine stuff while I should be focusing on pulling the TT and tranny out, for transplanting into the convertible (another long story) before SITM. But it seems that I will have to pull a lot of stuff from the engine or the engine itself!!!
Thanks again

 

I didn't pull either the alternator or compressor to get the passenger side out or loosen the dirver's side. I used a short combination wrench, a long combination wrench, 1/4" rachet and 1/2" ratchet and various socket lengths and adapters to get at everything. The 1/2" only works on the back few of which most of mine had been messed up by POs. Once you figure out how to get your hand and a wrench to them, none of them are really all that hard. Getting the rack out would definitely help with the driver's side. Since my MMs were flat, the driver's side header was sitting on the heatshield which was sitting on the rack. Once I lifted the engine 1/4" there was enough room to swing the driver's side out of the way of the starter ring gear.

After I typed all that something occured to me. Since you are doing this on an auto, all you need to worry about is the passenger side. You may not even have to remove that, just loosen it enough to swing it over ~1". At that point it's not hard to remove, but may not be necessary. The driver's side only needs to be moved to get the clutch out.

 

I second Matt. It just neeeds to be loosened. I was able to get at the lower bell housing my loosening the passenger side and using some ratchet wrenches. It can be done...

 

Sorry about reversing the sides. I must have been tired....

 

Thanks guys. Tomorrow night is my next chance to continue the work.

Borys. Not a problem. At least you were consistent, and it goes to show that you wanted to help despite being tired.

 

What was this about former commonwealth countries, was not the Americas one once?

Sorry folks could not resist it even, If I do come from the one Down Under origanally but now live in the mother country.

 

Nope. We were part of the Empire, but not the Commonwealth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commonwealth