VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Separating 216 intake & exhaust manifolds

I've worked on several 216's going back to the 60's, but I've never separated the intake and exhaust manifolds. I just pulled them off as a unit and reinstalled them as a unit. I'm on a new project with a very sweet 50 model and I'd like to separate the manifolds for painting. The two bolts and two nuts look mighty rusty. Has anyone separated the manifolds without getting into a nightmare with twisted off bolts, etc?

I have never had a problem.
When the engine was painted the manifolds were attached to the head and everything was one color.

Whe n you have things apart you may want to check the gasket surface to make sure its not warped. I just finished putting a 40 back together and had to resurface manifolds because of warpage.

I just seperated the one on my 51 so that I could install the headers. I sprayed it with PB Blaster twice a day for a few days & then started working them back & forth and they came right out. I was surprized, not broken bolts.

I have found that your way works on most old rusted parts with bolts and nuts...Patience and PB Blaster. Soak on the PB Blaster and every day see if it will work just a bit more, then resoak and try it tomorrow, patience and PB Blaster and several days and nights......Works most of the time if the bolt is intact enough. I have also used a small hammer and tap...tap...tap on the head of the bolt.