How to remove inlet manifold on 5 litre

[vsv8berlinawag]

Ok I'm trying to replace the inlet manifold gaskets and have stripped everything down to the point where I am ready to remove the manifold, but there is bugger all room to get to the bolts (all 14 of them !) . Do you need to remove the fuel rail or is it a special tool that gets to the bolts ?

[faroogoo]

Ratchet ring spanner might work...

[vsv8berlinawag]

Reckon it would work, but it's the retensioning that I worry about.

[eaton v8]

just undo the fuel rail its 4 small bolts and lift them out gently

[NORTI]

so you are suspecting its the inlet gasket then?

No incontinance panties just yet

[vsv8berlinawag]

Took the fuel rails off and presto all exposed so to speak. Yes Norti I think it is the gasket as it starts to weep there around the front drivers side corner where the inlet manifold mates with the block when you start the engine. It started about 2 weeks ago and ramped up prerrt quick where it makes a pool of coolant after a few minutes of running.

[VrWagz1]

As you would know the thermostat housing is there too and it also sits right there where the gallery is. Its not just the O ring in the housing leaking and leaving a pool of coolant there. I had 2 new o rings in mine recently and they both leaked within a week. Went to holden and got a genuine one and its stopped pooling coolant there on the inlet manifold.

Also tensioning the inlet manifold again. Start in the middle on the drivers side then go middle passenger side and work your way out on both sides.
13 14
9 10
5 6
1 2
3 4
7 8
11 12

[vsv8berlinawag]

Thanks VrWagz1. I'll have another carefull look at the thermostat housing, but I'm fairly confident that it is the gasket as it seems to be a common problem when the 5 litres are this old and with 220k's under its belt (when I said pooling I meant on the ground). Thanks for the bolt sequence as I was trying to find one as the Ellery's manually is vague in a lot of areas.

[VrWagz1]

Just had a quick read of my manual, it says to do the bolts up twice bassically. Do them once in order with about 15nM, and then repeat the process again at about 38nM torque.