Hey everyone, im just wondering if you have to remove the distributor when you remove the intake manifold on a 351M because it doesnt look like it to me. Also im going to be replacing the passenger side head gasket because 2 cylinders beside eachother are not holding compression. Do you all have any tips to make that go easier. How difficult is it to remove the exhaust manifold bolts??? i really dont want to break off any lol

 

I did not remove my distributor when replacing my intake gaskets, but it probably would have been easier, simply because it seemed to be in the way. But it is not a necessity.

 

Pulling the distributor makes it easier, especially when setting it back down. You don't want to wiggle out one of those end gaskets trying to jimmy the thing in correctly.

If exhaust manifold bolts are gonna break, there isn't much you can do about it. I broke off one the last ime I changed a head gasket.

 

header tip to add:
one thing that does help is to use 6 point sockects/wrenches to prevent stripping. if real rusty or if you do strip one you can go to a 14mm which is about .011" smaller than 9/16 to get a better bite.

if you have an aftermarket aluminum intake you could leave the dist. but if not I would agree with scroob. you may have trouble with the end gasket setting in that heavy *** cast one.

 

WD 40 for three days works great I did it when I put on my aluminum intake