Be very careful when pressing stuck things out. They can and will come out just like a bullet. I had a piece of steel shoot around the garage like I just fired a 44... Drilling holes through the middle bigger and bigger until you've taken most of the meat out will help a lot.

 

So I didn't get much done this weekend, kinda Mama focused , but managed to clean up the mating surface on the heads, and found my manifolds were leaking pretty good. Also found a lot of cancer that would inhibit proper sealing of the manifolds.

Clearly you can see there is relief here.
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It was a job to remove all the rust.
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And some useful shop items
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Sure shot in action, love that thing.
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All done cleaning...
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Applying the high temp ceramic lube to the bolt holes.
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https://picasaweb.google.com/CasperC...eat=directlink
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Ok, so finally had warm enough weather to paint, so I did.

I've updated my album, https://picasaweb.google.com/CasperC...eat=directlink and here is a glimpse.
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl =en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A% 2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fus er%2FCasperCPU%2Falbumid%2F5597833463792590913%3Fa lt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="400" height="267"><table style="width:auto;"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From Exhaust Manifolds</td></tr></tbody></table>

Only question I have is (two really) Why are the torque specs for the exhaust manifold so blasted hard to find in the manual, AND different for each side! Helm manual states, in their specs section 21ft/lbs for driver side, 37ft/lbs for passenger side

 

got a set of those bolt grips. they really work a treat. As for the manifold, patience. my came out but its a real battle in there. Access was the issue for me. I dont know how close your steering arm is to the manifold but on our RHD it runs right over one of the bolts so you cant get a wrench on it.

 

Good job and looks nice. I tell ya what, that had to one of the nicest albums to look through!

 

Thanks! I'm kinda different... just like working on stuff, having a cool truck is just a bonus . I'm very interested in how all the different stuff/ideas hold up, to do that right you need good documentation.

 

Exhaust manifold to head torque should be 45 ft-lbs (both sides) and uppipe flanges to exhaust manifold is 21 ft-lbs.

 

This is the third torque spec that is just WRONG in my Helm manual . After 20mins of searching, at the end of the 7.3l engine section there is a spec section, clearly delineates between the left and right banks. Last freakin error was 55ft/lbs for my 4 wheel bearing studs! It'll have to ride at 40ft/lbs, cause that was what seemed like a good compromise. Think I could get my $$$ back on the manuals, only bought them 11 years ago, direct from Helm.

 

Good pictures. What kind of paint did you use on your turbo? Ive got one sitting on my living room floor that need some paint work done to it

 

Here is the link:

Exhaust Coating, Black Satin Header Coating 4 oz - Exhaust Coatings by Tech Line Coatings, Inc.

This is the size I purchased to check it out, and to date have painted the manifold in my fast car (Accord ), both manifolds on the truck along with the turbine housing (both parts), and the collector... I still have 2 ounces left! Very thin application, and it seems to be holding up. I've had a couple good runs so far in the ~1200degree range.

 

I used a gasket on mine and torqued to spec. heard a leak a few months later, found the gasket had crept.



went back in straightened every thing up and went a bit past spec and that seemed to have done it.

 

OUCH! How is that possible? Did the gasket hole at the end of the manifold tear? Your gasket looks "thinner" then the one I put on. Who was the manufacturer?

 

Had me stumped as well. It was the last place I looked when chasing the leak. If you look close you can see that it was still around the first bolt all be it a little stretched. Have to ask Clay who the manufacturer was. It was a flat gasket with a raised ring around the outer edge of each port (like fire ring).

 

We get them direct from Ford.

 

That is a good idea. Think about the threads of a bolt tightening up, they tighten against the side facing the ... bolt head. When you rap it something in the head might give. Lets the threads get away from the threads they are tightened up against. - As a side note, turn a pickle jar upside down and wak it flat as you can on the counter. It will open right up.

Heating the bolts is tricky. There are a few problems. If you just heat it once and get the head nice and red, you will most likely just twist the head off. You also lose any hardness or temper in the bolt. Repeated heatings and coolings to get the heat to the end of the bolt (not easy) might do the trick. Try not to get the head red and heat the surrounding head as much as possible is even better if you can get to it - usually not...

Nuts are a different story. Heat them red and zipp them off fast with an air gun.

I'm still reading from the top of the thread. Have no idea how to get my manifold off yet, or the best way. It seems there is no way without broken bolts. When the head is off one day you can drill them out and re-tap. For now it will probably still leak after all that work. Mine is burning a plug wire off. Real PITA.

Im a machinist. Have drilled out thousands of bolts. (I'm old) There is a process. 25 ways to get out a broke bolt. You have to start with the easiest and work your way to drilling it completely out then re-tapping which will ruin a head if the tap breaks - 30% of the time if you've had a lot of practice. Well not really. With persistence and a small punch you cant break the tap to bits and blow them out - then start again!

I hope this helped anyone. I'm going back to the top and see if anyone has an idea how to reach down in there and get a manifold off. Like I said, I'm old. Can't crawl around like a monkey anymore.

Danny