C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

help removing intake manifold

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 08:51 PM
  #1  
biackbenz's Avatar
biackbenz
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 126
From: Mequon WI
Default help removing intake manifold

I'm stuck! Is there a secret to getting a wrench on the bolt located between the choke port and the EGR valve port? I can not get a 9/16" box wrench on it - it wont fit between the two ports. A 1/2" drive socket wont fit between them either. I don't have my 1/4" drive 9/16 socket with me but it seems that the shaft extension won't fit squarely in there as it will be hampered by the top of the manifold.

Do I need a special wrench? When I get back tomorrow I will bring all my 1/4" drive sockets, extensions, universal joint and see if that works. But if you know a better way, please share it!

Thanks
Attached Images  
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 09:44 PM
  #2  
76C3forme's Avatar
76C3forme
Racer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 494
Likes: 93
From: Bucks County PA
Default

My Old / 1970's Mac and Craftsman wrenches fit in that spot just fine. (although you only get a small amount of rotation). At some point / throughout the years Craftsman's quality "dropped" and cheaper materials were used, resulting in a "thicker" wrench (to help prevent breaking). I can see the differences between my dads old wrenches and ones that I bought in the 90's. His old wrenches are about 1/2 as "thick" - yet they are very strong, and I've broken quite a few of the "newer ones" which are thicker (but weaker).

If you have an old 9/16 wrench, you could grind around the outside of the wrench so it will fit in between. (That's if the socket, u-joints don't work. Thin-wall sockets work best.).

If you can't get it any other way, you may be able to weld a 1/2" nut on a short - 9/16 thin-wall socket and get it with a wrench "further up", but I can't imagine it would come to that.

I don't think I've ever had an issue getting a Mac or Snap-on Wrench on that bolt. I'll have to try it on the L82 intake I have out in the garage. They should only be about 30ft/lbs and "usually" those bolts in the center are the loosest ones! Someone really must have went crazy on yours'.

Last edited by 76C3forme; Jul 13, 2016 at 09:57 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 09:53 PM
  #3  
A88FXRS's Avatar
A88FXRS
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 374
Likes: 12
From: PHILADELPHIA PA
Default

Originally Posted by biackbenz
I'm stuck! Is there a secret to getting a wrench on the bolt located between the choke port and the EGR valve port? I can not get a 9/16" box wrench on it - it wont fit between the two ports. A 1/2" drive socket wont fit between them either. I don't have my 1/4" drive 9/16 socket with me but it seems that the shaft extension won't fit squarely in there as it will be hampered by the top of the manifold.

Do I need a special wrench? When I get back tomorrow I will bring all my 1/4" drive sockets, extensions, universal joint and see if that works. But if you know a better way, please share it!

Thanks
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 09:55 PM
  #4  
toddalin's Avatar
toddalin
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,353
From: Santa Ana CA
Default

If you have a wrench for flare nuts over tubes, they are often thinner.

Last edited by toddalin; Jul 13, 2016 at 09:56 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 10:00 PM
  #5  
bluedawg's Avatar
bluedawg
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
Default

Originally Posted by A88FXRS
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
And take the plate covering the hole up, thunk it's were the choke inserts into the manifold, an air ratchet might make easy work of it.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2016 | 10:22 PM
  #6  
xkeots's Avatar
xkeots
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by 76C3forme
My Old / 1970's Mac and Craftsman wrenches fit in that spot just fine. (although you only get a small amount of rotation). At some point / throughout the years Craftsman's quality "dropped" and cheaper materials were used, resulting in a "thicker" wrench (to help prevent breaking). I can see the differences between my dads old wrenches and ones that I bought in the 90's. His old wrenches are about 1/2 as "thick" - yet they are very strong, and I've broken quite a few of the "newer ones" which are thicker (but weaker).

If you have an old 9/16 wrench, you could grind around the outside of the wrench so it will fit in between. (That's if the socket, u-joints don't work. Thin-wall sockets work best.).

If you can't get it any other way, you may be able to weld a 1/2" nut on a short - 9/16 thin-wall socket and get it with a wrench "further up", but I can't imagine it would come to that.

I don't think I've ever had an issue getting a Mac or Snap-on Wrench on that bolt. I'll have to try it on the L82 intake I have out in the garage. They should only be about 30ft/lbs and "usually" those bolts in the center are the loosest ones! Someone really must have went crazy on yours'.
I just used a thin wall SK socket and torqued it too.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 08:07 AM
  #7  
gungatim's Avatar
gungatim
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by A88FXRS
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
this. or a good quality 9/16" universal is even shorter. you need good quality without a lot of slop not a cheap or worn out one. then replace the bolts with aftermarket ones with smaller heads if you don't want to deal with it again.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 08:26 AM
  #8  
biackbenz's Avatar
biackbenz
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 126
From: Mequon WI
Default

Thanks all. As said by many this is a great place for good advice and info. Going to start with the 1/4" drive because I have one . Then a new thin wall socket. Already have one broken bolt thats what caused this don't want another one.

I'm planning to keep the exahust crossover open and use the carb mounted hot air choke. Some say you get better performance by blocking those ports off. Is it a big performance gain? I want to get the car back on the road and dont want to deal with an electric choke install now. Does not seem to be a lot of work just not now.

If I do block it off now, the choke wont work right. But, the coldest temp this car will ever see is maybe a low of 45 degrees and that will be a rare fall day. So, does it matter?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 08:33 AM
  #9  
augiedoggy's Avatar
augiedoggy
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 1,118
From: North tonawanda NY
Default

Originally Posted by A88FXRS
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
I agree thats what I use... BTW in regards to the craftsmen tools comment above. Many people have no idea they are made in china now and have been for years (unlike the incorrect statement in the Toby Keith song which shows people will continue to assume they arent due to the power of brand marketing) Husky used to make them for sears but now there is only one American tool company left that I know of for sure (snapon)

Last edited by augiedoggy; Jul 14, 2016 at 08:34 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 10:44 AM
  #10  
76C3forme's Avatar
76C3forme
Racer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 494
Likes: 93
From: Bucks County PA
Default

Originally Posted by augiedoggy
I agree thats what I use... BTW in regards to the craftsmen tools comment above. Many people have no idea they are made in china now and have been for years ....

I've heard that as well. I haven't bought a Craftsman Tool / Socket or Wrench since the very early 90's and I was seeing the difference back then. Not sure when they went to China (Like everything else it seems).....Everything made in China, no quality, nothing lasts. A "disposable society", I guess...

Last edited by 76C3forme; Jul 14, 2016 at 10:45 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 11:03 AM
  #11  
MotorHead's Avatar
MotorHead
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Default

Originally Posted by A88FXRS
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
I agree but let me add a tall socket.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 03:04 PM
  #12  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

Originally Posted by biackbenz

I'm planning to keep the exahust crossover open and use the carb mounted hot air choke. Some say you get better performance by blocking those ports off. Is it a big performance gain? I want to get the car back on the road and dont want to deal with an electric choke install now. Does not seem to be a lot of work just not now.

If I do block it off now, the choke wont work right. But, the coldest temp this car will ever see is maybe a low of 45 degrees and that will be a rare fall day. So, does it matter?
I tried blocking the port off on my '69/427/390 and I went back to running it open. Works better for me here in SoCal.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To help removing intake manifold





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:59 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE