Hey guys, just signed up here. I have an '01 that I am doing the head gasket on. The head is going to thew machine shop today, so right now everything is just sitting in pieces, but I am really really worried about getting the bottom manifold bolts back on.

Seriously, is there any easy way to do it? Couldnt see them to get them off, and my father in law got under it, felt around, slid the socket onto them, and once he did that I twisted the ratchet from the top. NOT an easy task, obviously, and Im concerned that getting them back on is going to be 10x as hard. Am I missing something, is there an easier way to do this?

Appreciate any tips on doing these.

EDIT: Sorry, wasnt thinking. Should specify, it's an XJ, 4.0 stock.

 

Put the manifolds on the head before re-installing the head.

 

yes, this would be the easiest way.

those pre-cats make the install a pain in the ***, and i really never look forward to repairing them.

best way i found is just feeding them in with my finger tips and using an assortment of wrenches, sockets and swivels to tighten them.

you could also get an aftermarket exhaust manifold and eliminate those precats though

 

Appreciate the input. I'm not sure we can put them on before we put the head back on, but it's worth a shot. The manifold isnt completely off but maybe it's worth it to pull it before we put the head back on. That was an incredible pain, and thankfully my father in law had the extensions and flex joints for the socket or we never would have gotten to them.


Thanks for the advice. Hopefully it's back together this week.