Removing cylinder head this evening. I have heard you can leave the exhaust manifolds attached.

How do most of you guys perform the removal. Exhaust manifolds attached or removed?

Also, any tips and/or tricks and things to watch for would be greatly appreciated, since this is my first time removing a 951 head. Thanks in advance.

 

remove them. its not that hard. If you want to buy a 951 head thats ready to throw on i have them, PM me.

 

I second that, remove them. I like to have least amount of stuff attached when wielding things like heads around.

 

On a turbo, leave them attached is easiest when pulling the head. On the NA, just remove the mainfolds from the head as there is plenty of clearance to get the manifolds off easily without having to mess with studs.

 

I just removed my head the day before yesterday. I left them attached, which gave me something to grab onto when lifting the head off the block. You also save a lot of time by leaving them attached.

Headgasket (cylinder 4) blew, if you're wondering

 

I think its easier to leave the manifolds attached.

 

It depends on which bolts you can get off due to age and rust. LOL!

 

Best head removal/head gasket write-up I have seen is the one by Tom M’Guinness:

http://members.rennlist.com/tom86951/headgasket.htm

 

I would leave them attached also. Take the PS tank out of its mount and lay it to the side to give you more space. It helps to have a friend move all the wiring out of the way at the back of the engine when you pull the head off...its a heavy sucker especially with the manifolds still on. Remember you will also need a pry bar to break the seal between the head and the block. They can be really glued on there.

Another thing to be mindful is you do not bang the headers on the strut towers or anything else. I actually dented (and put a hole) in the flex joint on the #1 runner..didnt matter because i was replacing them anyway, but would have sucked if i wasnt planning on it.

 

I prefer to leave them attached also

What happened DD ?

 

I'll post some pics tomorrow.

 

Looks like a lot of you guys leave em on. I'll try that next time too!