soontobered84

Art,
I hate to break the news to you, but it will NOT seal. Stop and take a deep breath. Wait a minute. Then do it the right way. Put the manifold gasket in.

You are not going to be happy when you start the car and hear the exhaust leak. Then you will wonder why you didn't just put back in before you had to take all that stuff off AGAIN.

Good Luck.

mark kibort

passenger side takes 10 mins to get off! do it, it will be the most anyoying leaking clicking noise if you dont!!

ajricker

Well ten mins would be pretty optimistic for me. But you're right. Been thinking about it since yesterday. I'm pretty sure it's the front passenger side port. Air conditioner pump is not on yet. So if I take the bracket off that will give me more room to work. May not even have to take the header all the way off. I still have to lift the engine a bit though. First I have to order a new gasket though. The old one got bent when pinched between the header and heat-shield.

Ducman82

i did that too.... :-(

ajricker

What? Crushed a gasket? Or took the bracket off?

ajricker

Removing the a/c bracket and heat-shield made it tons easier. Turns out it was the gasket on the 3 cylinder. I should be able to slip it in without taking the header all the way off. Now just have to wait for the new gasket to arrive.

ajricker

OK finally got the new gasket got it installed. went in like a brease. headers tightened down. now I can't get the x-pipe to align. When I put the bolts through the flange on one side the x-pipe is little over 1/4" wider on the other side. suggestions?

Ducman82

picture? and all this was on the car before .... etc.... right? that is indeed odd...

soontobered84

IIRC, the X-pipe needs about 1/4" "persuasion" to fit. Just "persuade" it gently into place and bolt it up.

ajricker

Got it. I used a short 2x4 for leverage. I hope it seals well. don't want to do that again soon. Of course that's not the fist time I've said that.

17prospective buyer

****in spammers.

ajricker

Headers and x-pipe finally done. O2 sensor and heat shields were a bit of a pain. But that part's done. Now back to the front of the engine. New radiator and electric fan. Might even get it fired up by the end of March. Woohoo!