3.4 head removal and leaving the exhaust manifolds bolted to the crossover pipe?

[19963.4lsr5]

Anyone ever try this? I'm pulling the heads for a head gasket job and wonder if this is possible.

If I don't need to remove the manifolds and risk breaking the studs.......I'm about to find out either way.

My 96 broke studs. The 97 project the nuts came off easy.


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[19963.4lsr5]

I'm going to say it's possible removing all the exhaust manifold studs in the head.

I managed to remove the 3 nuts holding the passenger manifold to the crossover pipe.

I'm currently fighting the rear alignment dowel. I can't get the head off it. Other than that passenger side is done.


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[gamefreakgc]

Is removing the studs really easier than removing the crossover pipe? Seems like a trade-off to me.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I've got to be missing something. Only 8 head bolts and it seems like something at the rear of the head is holding it on. I can move it and wiggle it but can't lift it off.

Ugg


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[19963.4lsr5]

I neglected to remove what I thought was plug for a oil passage.

The 8mm bolt. 1 per head, drivers side is in the front and passenger side it's at the rear.

What purpose does that bolt do really?


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[Vansnxtweek]

I have done my head gaskets and just 2 weeks ago I had to remove my d/s manifold to replace the gasket as it didn't seal well for me. When I did my head gaskets as well as when I replaced the manifold gasket I did NOT remove the crossover pipe. I'm pretty sure it takes an act of war to do so. I don't see how it could be done without jacking the motor up. When I did my head gaskets all of the studs came out of the head when I tried to take the nuts off.

I hoped that would happen this past time but it did not. All of the studs stayed in. I tried everything to remove the manifold without taking all the studs out but it was not possible. I would just remove the nuts, see what happens and if that gets you no where I'd go ahead and remove the studs and pull it on out. With patience and PB Blaster my crossover to manifold nuts came off. Just don't rush it and over head the threads.

I realize you're past this now but I figured I'd put up my experience for future searchers such as myself.

As far as the 8mm bolts I'm pretty sure he mentions them in this video. I really enjoyed these videos during my head gasket journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTsocmNdBpQ

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I have done my head gaskets and just 2 weeks ago I had to remove my d/s manifold to replace the gasket as it didn't seal well for me. When I did my head gaskets as well as when I replaced the manifold gasket I did NOT remove the crossover pipe. I'm pretty sure it takes an act of war to do so. I don't see how it could be done without jacking the motor up. When I did my head gaskets all of the studs came out of the head when I tried to take the nuts off.

I hoped that would happen this past time but it did not. All of the studs stayed in. I tried everything to remove the manifold without taking all the studs out but it was not possible. I would just remove the nuts, see what happens and if that gets you no where I'd go ahead and remove the studs and pull it on out. With patience and PB Blaster my crossover to manifold nuts came off. Just don't rush it and over head the threads.

I realize you're past this now but I figured I'd put up my experience for future searchers such as myself.

As far as the 8mm bolts I'm pretty sure he mentions them in this video. I really enjoyed these videos during my head gasket journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTsocmNdBpQ

I watched that video and had my ureka moment when he pointed out that that single bolt in each head had to come out.

I'm pretty sure that bolt is do nothing and probably only their to aid in the manufacturing process.

I kept going back to the rear bolt and then dismissing it. I need a PC at the garage and my 4Runner disk out there.


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[Vansnxtweek]

I watched that video and had my ureka moment when he pointed out that that single bolt in each head had to come out.

I'm pretty sure that bolt is do nothing and probably only their to aid in the manufacturing process.

I kept going back to the rear bolt and then dismissing it. I need a PC at the garage and my 4Runner disk out there.


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Man having a computer in the garage can be an incredible tool! Glad you got it taken care of.

 

[rideexileex]

Just did headgaskets -

As a PSA to make it far easier....

Remove only the THREE nuts/studs (depending on what breaks loose) from the drivers side cross over pipe and the passenger side collector.

It was very easy to leave the manifolds on the heads, and remove once the heads are off the block.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Well, heads are off and stripped of brackets and bolts.

You can remove heads with manifolds in place if you remove the exhaust studs.


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[Vansnxtweek]

I remember that view! Get her on back together now!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I must work tomorrow and Monday. My head replacement kit from Yota should be here Monday or Tuesday. I'll drop it off Tuesday.

I got cleaning to do between the heads.

Edit: if the kit from Yota doesn't have valve stem seals than I need to get them also.


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[19963.4lsr5]

Diagnosis looks like cylinder 2 may have had a minor head gasket leak. But it looks like my coolant loss was a bad intake manifold gasket at the back of the left head. The valley between the heads was full of antifreeze.


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[19963.4lsr5]

From my experience, leave the manifolds bolted to the crossover pipe and remove the studs from the head. Getting the passenger side manifold bolted on and lined up with the crossover pipe took me way too long and I almost stripped the threads out of the head for the lower middle cylinder exhaust stud.


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