TRevver Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Does anyone have any tips for re-fitting the inlet and exhaust manifolds for a 2L mk1 Vitesse? To say that the fit between the flanges of the 2 manifolds at the engine block surface is a tight fit would be an understatement! I’m wary of adopting the “hit it with a big hammer” approach - especially on the cast iron exhaust manifold which has a hairline crack already. Thanks in advance for any tips / suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 I have taken file to the inlet manifold before now to get an easier fit between the exhaust flanges, from memory only had to ease a couple of contact points slightly. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 yes add some relief there's no good reason for them to be under stress , its probably years of hot/cold has made the exhaust shrink with the continuous normalising being a tight fit will only induce air leaks as you fight to clamp them to the head , its worth running a die nut down the bolts so you know no crud is holding the tightening of the bolts Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Yep, as they said. I had to relieve a couple of places on mine to make it fit nicely and not keep blowing gaskets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRevver Posted April 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Thanks - all sorted and it sounds like a good idea for the die nut too👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRevver Posted April 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Looks like I spoke too soon! The exhaust manifold HAS shrunk! Everything else fits perfectly but the manifold now doesn’t fit over the 2 brass studs at either end. Im guessing one solution might be to rebore the holes at either end of the exhaust manifold?? It came off absolutely no problem about 6 weeks ago, although the engine had been run to loosen the studs a bit. Maybe that heat was enough to cause enough expansion to remove it easily? Another option, warm manifold with heat gun before re-installation? Time for a beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Pop it in the oven, 400C, wait half an hour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRevver Posted April 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 Brilliant! I’ll wait until my wife’s gone to get some toilet roll! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 Not sure if it is a good idea but I have retorqued the manifolds bolts and nuts after the first hot cool cycle. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 1 hour ago, 68vitesse said: Not sure if it is a good idea but I have retorqued the manifolds bolts and nuts after the first hot cool cycle. Regards Paul Yes, re-torque/check after things cool down otherwise you can end up with leaks. Standard workshop process. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 I re tighten my manifold bolts a couple of times a year as the heating/cooling seems to slacken them and then I get leaks (MK1) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 45 minutes ago, johny said: I re tighten my manifold bolts a couple of times a year as the heating/cooling seems to slacken them and then I get leaks (MK1) Sound like the gasket was on it's way out. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 I've had it a couple of times with new gaskets but this last time with a tightening routine no further problems. As I say each time I redo them they have loosened.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 5, 2020 Report Share Posted April 5, 2020 its important on MK1 type heads the bolts /holes are clear it only has a 20-22 lbft on the double clamps and 24-26 on the end studs which is quite low for a 3/8unf thread overtightening can spread the clamps pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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