Any tips for getting off the pass side exhaust manifold, preferrable with one or two knuckles still intact? 87 BII 2.9l, A4LD w/A/C. It's maing a little "puffing" noise up there somewhere, but not from the pipes/joints, so must be a cracked manifold or bad gasket.

 

From what I have heard, plan on breaking off most of them.

 

Studs or knuckles? Ugh! Maybe it'll just keep "puffing"!

 

For three or four days, use a good penetrating lube on it, get a couple of u-joint extentions for your ratchet, and take it off. With the penetrating oil on it for a couple of days it really won't be that hard to get off. I did both sides of my 1975 360cid, passenger side without lube (broke off three bolts) drivers side with. The drivers side came off like it had been assembled days before. Hope this helps.