help with crossover pipe bolt up to exhaust

[Artieg]

97 4Runner, 3.4 auto 4wd limited..

Placed the JDM engine into the compartment, (exhaust manifolds and cross-over pipe installed on motor). I can not seem to get the crossover pipe aligned with the exhaust pipe flange.
This has been kicking my back side for several hours now and I am looking for suggestions.

I have not tried to loosen the crossover pipe from the exhaust manifolds and would rather not....

Ideas?

 

[TheDurk]

97 4Runner, 3.4 auto 4wd limited..

Placed the JDM engine into the compartment, (exhaust manifolds and cross-over pipe installed on motor). I can not seem to get the crossover pipe aligned with the exhaust pipe flange.
This has been kicking my back side for several hours now and I am looking for suggestions.

I have not tried to loosen the crossover pipe from the exhaust manifolds and would rather not....

Ideas?

What's the exact issue? On my frame swap, the exhaust pipe flange was too far to the rear (or the engine was too far to the front) and I had trouble getting the two to marry. Finally a wrapped a luggage strap around the pipe and some part of the engine and pulled them together. I leaned on the strap pretty hard, and it came together enough to get a nut on one stud. Then the one nut allowed the other two, and voilà. It helps that the strap gave a 2:1 mechanical advantage and it locked in any progress with one of those toothed buckle clips.

Of course, it was easier with the frame not yet raised.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Is the crossover the right type? Most JDMs need your old donor exhaust manifolds swapped over to the JDM engine because of the variance in years and vehicle types. They may all be 5VZ-FE's but all other parts are specific to the vehicle it was pulled from.

 

[Artieg]

Yeah, I swapped everything from my old 3.4 to the JDM, exhaust manifolds included.
The problem is that the three bolts on the cross-over do not line up with the holes in the receiving end. When I get one in, the other two become crescent shaped with I look up through them.. It almost looks like it needs to be "rotated" about 3 degrees..

I am stumped. My next course of action is to turn a couple M10x1.25 bolts into alignment pins and see if I can get it together that way.
The 3rd gen maybe a great vehicle but it is a PITA to wrench on, (at least the parts accessed from the bottom..)

 

[phattyduck]

If it is all California parts, just take the exhaust apart, it comes in multiple parts! Loosely get it all back together then tighten it from the front to the back. Lube the hangers with dish soap or a silicone based lube.

Rust belt guys aren't so lucky.

-Charlie

 

[Artieg]

thanks for the responses. the two make-shift alignment pins/bolts did the trick.