I'm almost to the end of my 66,000 mile major and I have a tech question: Can the exhaust manifolds be attached to the engine before it is put back in the car? The only interference would be the axles and that fit looks extremely tight, but if it can be done it would make attaching the manifolds way easier. If anyone has tried this, let me know if it can work. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Llenrok, one more question: Were you able to lower the engine all the way down onto the mounts, or did you lower it part way and then maneuver the axles into place? Do you recall the position of the axles (angled toward front or rear) when the engine was lowered?
I had removed the axles completely from the car and reinstalled them after the engine was in place. IIRC you can’t remove the engine without completely removing the axles, did you get engine out without completely removing them? Now that I think if you removed the headers you could I didn’t do that. Thinking out load there sorry haha. Anyway the constant velocity joints will compress, lack of a better word, to get them back in place. Remember if you were just removing the axles to replace the boots for example you would not have lift or remove the engine to do so.
That's not what I wanted to hear. I had my axles out to replace the CV joints, but they are back in now. I'm just trying to figure out which is the bigger pain - taking the axles out again (taking off wheels, un-pinning the retaining nut, and then getting it back in place, or just installing the headers when the engine is in? Option 2 would also make it less likely I mess up the newly coated headers. Hmmm. Also, I will probably have to buy 2 new axle retaining nuts.
I just this minute spoke with my friend Dino Sanzogni, Master Ferrari mechanic. He advised installing only the front manifolds before putting the engine back in. They are more difficult to install once the engine is in. Then connect the CV joints, then install the rear manifolds. Seems like an excellent compromise. Why didn't I think of that?
Thanks to all for the input. I will install the front headers, then drop engine in and go from there.
