3.7L 224ci issue removing exhaust manifold

epjohnson

Recruit
Joined
Aug 5, 2019
Messages
4
Hello All,
This is my first time posting here so please forgive me for ignorance...LOL!
I have a 1985 3.7L 190hp that bent a valve and broke a push tube. I removed both head and exhaust at the same time because I could not get them to separate...Stupid Heavy cast iron BTW!!. I broke one bolt and ALL the rest came out ok. There were only a total of 4 bolts and 3 nuts to remove. Now I cannot get the manifold to separate from the head...suggestions??
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Probably just stuck on the studs. If you are going to take it to the machine shop, you could have them do it.
 

epjohnson

Recruit
Joined
Aug 5, 2019
Messages
4
Thank you for the information Terry. I went home and took my weed burner to it and heated it up. It took about 30 minutes and the penetrating oil finally did it's job and it broke free. However, it still was a bugger and hung onto the broken bolt. I managed to get about a 3/16 gap between the head and manifold at which point I took my sawzall and cut the broken bolt...gotta drill it and tap it out anyways...LOL! After cutting the bolt, it slid right off the studs. I'm probably going to remove/replace all but one stud to use as an alignment pin to hold the manifold in place while I start the other bolts...grade 8 here I come.
My next venture is to replace the 1 bent valve or have the whole head done...yipee!
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,295
I personally would replace the iron head with an aluminum edelbrock head for a ford 460, drill the one large hole for the fitting and remove about 60# from the back of your boat and try to prevent the head gaskets from spitting.
 
Top