Intake manifold bolt removal quesiton
Popular Reply
Dec 20, 2021, 09:48 PM
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There's not a Chevy mechanic in the world, being paid flat rate, who doesn't put a 1/2" drive impact on the manifold bolts and just zips them out in any convenient sequence. It makes no difference - the manifold will not warp. I've done several hundred in my lifetime, and never had a warped manifold. Just pop the bolts out, no problem.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 7,848
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Crack them all loose a 1/4 turn in reverse order of the install torque sequence. then just remove them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There's not a Chevy mechanic in the world, being paid flat rate, who doesn't put a 1/2" drive impact on the manifold bolts and just zips them out in any convenient sequence. It makes no difference - the manifold will not warp. I've done several hundred in my lifetime, and never had a warped manifold. Just pop the bolts out, no problem.
Last edited by lars; Dec 20, 2021 at 09:56 PM.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Guaranteed.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
#1 most common novice mistake is not torquing the bolts via the pattern enough times......there is no "enough times" spec......you just keep doing it til they are snug....and don't murder them
#2 most common novice mistake is not using PTFE sealer on the threads of the bolts so oil can leak past them.......
#3 most common novice mistake is using too long of a bolt in the positions that are right on top of the pushrod.....which rub and gall the pushrod and cause abnormal running.
I have seen all three of these at least 20 times or more over the years........
#1 tip I give to people working on their own stuff....."It is more important to know why you are doing a step than what the step is.....if you know how and why it does what it does, you will breeze through everytime".
Jebby
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Another tip is to make sure the bolts thread in by finger. Had an eddy intake that the rear two on one side would start a bit but you had to run em down with a wrench/ratchet. Was enough to distort the flange that those runners didn't seal as good. Simple fix was to enlarge the holes a bit.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 723
Likes: 71
From: Kannapolis NC
As long as the others are sufficiently tight.........
#1 most common novice mistake is not torquing the bolts via the pattern enough times......there is no "enough times" spec......you just keep doing it til they are snug....and don't murder them
#2 most common novice mistake is not using PTFE sealer on the threads of the bolts so oil can leak past them.......
#3 most common novice mistake is using too long of a bolt in the positions that are right on top of the pushrod.....which rub and gall the pushrod and cause abnormal running.
I have seen all three of these at least 20 times or more over the years........
#1 tip I give to people working on their own stuff....."It is more important to know why you are doing a step than what the step is.....if you know how and why it does what it does, you will breeze through everytime".
Jebby
#1 most common novice mistake is not torquing the bolts via the pattern enough times......there is no "enough times" spec......you just keep doing it til they are snug....and don't murder them
#2 most common novice mistake is not using PTFE sealer on the threads of the bolts so oil can leak past them.......
#3 most common novice mistake is using too long of a bolt in the positions that are right on top of the pushrod.....which rub and gall the pushrod and cause abnormal running.
I have seen all three of these at least 20 times or more over the years........
#1 tip I give to people working on their own stuff....."It is more important to know why you are doing a step than what the step is.....if you know how and why it does what it does, you will breeze through everytime".
Jebby
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas