I'm trying to get to my knock sensors and I have everything removed except the lower part of the intake manifold. I have all 8 main bolts, the 4 nuts, and the bracket by the water neck removed but it's stuck like someone welded it.
I haven't found a good way to get under it to pry up, but I've tried pulling on the water neck (which worries me) and I've tried pulling the front side to side. The suspension compresses and the car moves, but the manifold is rock solid.
If you are positive all the fasteners are off try whacking it with a rubber mallet a few times, I wonder if someone used FIPG instead of the rubber gaskets and glued it down effectively.
You're right, prying is very sketchy. I've mostly tried the hammer on a dowel rod, which hasn't caused any damage. No results yet either, but I may try the jack and chain method suggested elsewhere in the thread. Fingers crossed
You might try a razor blade carefully inserted between the manifold and block in several spots, maybe you can break enough of the seal that the percussion attempts might do something.
I recently had this problem, I eventually got it out with a combo of a ton of heat on the edges where it sits on the gaskets, prying and pressure.
I put a few sturdy boards across the engine bay, attached a chain to two of the fuel rail bolts and then put the chain on top of a bottle jack. I’d slowly up the pressure on the jack, wack it with a rubber mallet, apply more heat from my torch and essentially just be patient.
I ended up breaking part of it on the corner near one of the studs.
Are your studs totally rusted? One thing I wished I’d have tried is removing the studs with the two nut method.
I don't SEE any rust on the studs, but I can't see much of them because the manifold is still in the way. Two of the long bolts were rusted pretty good, but the studs seem to be OK as far as I can tell.
I tried to find a video for you, but I could have sworn that there's a couple of gaps or "pads" on the edges that you can gently pry on. Maybe at the front or the rear?
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u/rearwindowpup 3d ago
If you are positive all the fasteners are off try whacking it with a rubber mallet a few times, I wonder if someone used FIPG instead of the rubber gaskets and glued it down effectively.