Posted by Dave'02LT on September 19, 04 at 17:14:30:
In Reply to: Exhaust Manifold R+R posted by PeterW on September 19, 04 at 06:57:08:
1. "Attempt to loosen bolts hot or cold? If hot...engine hot or torch hot?" - Cold. You'll be sweating enough as it is by the time you're finished. :)
2. "Reuse old bolts or new?" - New grade 8s as mentioned by others, UNLESS you have the special tapered bolts that the earlier 7.4s used (not sure when they stopped using them). Dealer item if they are tapered.
3. "Tightening...torque specific or tighten the beejesus out of it?" - Good and tight, no need to overdo it.
4. "Tightening pattern... front to rear or anything goes?" - As Arkansawyer said, inside out.
5. "Gasket...sandwiched dry between components or use Hight Temp. RTV?" - Thin coat of "Sensor Safe" High Temp RTV.
6. "Use hand tools or air tools?" - I use hand tools to break them loose, then an air ratchet to spin them the rest of the way out. If any get tight on the way out, then switch back to hand tools, working the bolt back and forth and spraying often with PB Blaster.
If any bolts don't want to break loose with a fair amout of effort, then save it/them for last. Try whacking the head of the bolt squarely a few times to jar it loose. You may need to use a heavy extension and whack it/them through the fenderwell after removing the rubber splash shield. Then try harder and hope they don't break. :0
7. "Remove the donut and flange first or get the manifold bolts loose 1st?" - Donut first.
Good luck!