Unable to pull intake manifold out - stuck behind timing belt cover

[TEYESpider]

Hi,
I have a 79 and trying to perform the intake manifold/carb swap.

I have all the bolts out on the original manifold. I thought that was supposed to be the hard part! I still can't remove the darn thing.
The metallic timing belt cover is partially covering the front end of the manifold.
I bent the tab back but it wasn't sufficient.

Any suggestions? Do I need to remove the studs from the block? I'm always worried about breaking them off. If that's what I need to do can I get some tips. Or do I need to get a small set of tin snips to open up the cover a bit more...

pictures
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24533853@ ... res/985PQ6

Thanks,
Brent

[RRoller123]

Yours is the first picture I bet that many of us have seen with the metal inner timing belt covers installed. Pretty much every car long ago had them removed and discarded. Whether to keep the outer plastic guard is a topic of much merriment here. I suspect, from looking at the pictures, that you are going to have to remove the inner guards to get that manifold off. Possibly time to replace the timing belt if you do that, odds are that it may never have been done, as that is when the inner metal guards are nearly always discarded.

[TEYESpider]

Yeah that explains why I haven't seen this issue. come up much in prior posts.

I did actually replace the timing belt already and left this guard on. I do remember needing to cut the guard a bit for access.

I think I have 4 options
1. Remove the timing belt and the guard first
2. Cut the guard more. Access is horrible.
3. Unscrew the studs by grinding flats in the studs. use pliers to turn studs. Then slide manifold aft.
4. Pull manifold away from engine far enough to cut studs. I can leave about a half inch of studs.

I wanted to get some of thoughts before I start cutting things up

Thanks
Brent

[scrapironchef]

I'm in the middle of the same project and opted for #1. Might as well replace the timing belt and idler while you're in there, maybe the water pump and seals too. Once the manifold is off the starter is easier to change out too, and the alternator is an easy upgrade. Hmmm, the manifold is off so the head would be an easy upgrade to that 1800, swap out for a better exhaust manifold and downtube to match to make it breathe easier.

Wait a minute, how much am I into this fix?

[TEYESpider]

That seems to be how these things work. They roll into other improvements.

The thing is, I already fixed most of that stuff like belt and assorted other things like starter, pump etc. I just want this "simple" manifold swap then the new Christmas dfev carb.

Brent

[klweimer]

I'd start by double nutting the stud and seeing if you can back it out. It could just unscrew...

[TEYESpider]

Thanks. I'll have a go at it. My wife was able to come up a bunch of other projects to work. I may have missed my car project window for a while.

[TEYESpider]

I had success through extra persuasion. There wasn't enough room to get two nuts on the end of the studs.

I ended up pushing, prying, and pulling and eventually freed the forward end of the manifold enough to slide it past the belt guard.

Thanks for the suggestions.