Rear Exhaust Manifold Removal

[Merkava_4]

2000 Buick LeSabre w/ 3800 Series II V6.

Have any of you guys tried that on a transverse V6 with the engine still in the car ?

Tips and suggestions welcome.

 

[The_Eric]

Is this the one where you're removing the head? If so, pull the head with the manifold attached and work on it on the bench.

 

[Merkava_4]

That would be one very clever maneuver if it worked.

 

[Chris142]

If the manifold does not block access to the head bolts.

 

[92saturnsl2]

I installed headers on my 2000 Pontiac Bonneville with supercharged series II, it was a piece of cake. People do it on the smaller W bodies (Grand Prix) all the time. Can't imagine the NA engine being more difficult.

The series II is very easy to work on due to the small OHV packaging, compared to transverse V6's with large DOHC heads. Try YouTube, I bet there's some how to videos on there...

 

[Merkava_4]

92saturn - Did you pull the rear exhaust manifold out the top ?

If you had a 2000 Bonneville, it should be close to the same configuration as my LeSabre.

 

[CorvairGeek]

As I am familiar with the platform, and having pulled the rear manifold from a 3300 (the little brother with no EGR) even with the engine rolled back (collision) in a A-body, I would think it to be easier than it might look.



View with manifold removed. It was tight pulling it out the top on this damaged car.



You can see where the power steering pump was against, and mashed the fan motor



Normal view from the top (with a tap in the O2 sensor port because Mr. Goodwrench had destroyed the threads and didn't tell the previous owner, which started this whole swap)



The caveat to this is these (1992) are desert cars and the hardware was still like new.

 

[CorvairGeek]

Another normal view;



A lot of a 'by feel' job, but still not bad.

 

[emmett442]

I choose to raise the vehicle as high as I can, lower the rear of the subframe, and remove the manifold from the bottom.

 

[daman]

Remove or unbolt any top motor mounts and simply roll the engine forwards towards the radiator, should have plenty of room then. Done it many times.