Started my head gasket job and can't gingerly get my intake manifold removed. 6 Bolts removed but nervous about prying as I don't want to break anything. Is there something I'm missing?

 

There is a bolt on the side with the heater hoses. There are two grounds bolted to the back. You have to unbolt the coils. You have to remove the throttle body heater hoses. You have to unhook the throttle cables. Tps sensor connector. Brake booster line. PVC breather on both sides. Probably some stuff I'm forgetting.

 

There are 2 bolts per side for the SAI air injection also.
Once all the bolts are off - it is still wedged in there.
There are also bolts for the air injection tube in the back too.

Once all these are out - it should wiggle around.
You still need to really un wedge it to get it out as it is held in by hoses and junk on either side even after the bolts are all out.

 

That's the plenum, and if you cant get that off by yourself you really shouldn't be doing a head gasket job.

 

That was it. Simply over looked those connections. Everything came of as expected.

Heads are off and at shop.

Thanks for the help.

I agree if I couldn't get the plenum off, I should quit. Perseverance paid of!

 

Took me two hours to get it off.
As I just fished around for bolts and took them off carefully.
You will have A LOT of fun putting it back on too.
You need to put it on by feel.

Do NOT screw up putting the heads back on.

Absolutely DRY gaskets.
No sealant on them.

Absolutely clean surfaces..

15 LBS first torque in pattern (all the bolts starting at the center)
Then 1/2 turn (all the bolts via the pattern, not just one)
then 1/2 turn. (all the bolts in the pattern).

One poor soul on here torqued each bolt at a time with 15lbs, then 1/2 and then 1/2 turn. And that is dead wrong.

Here are some pictures..

Flickr: Landroverdude2's Photostream

 

I thought it was 15lbs in sequence, QUARTER turn in sequence, and QUARTER turn in sequence to finish.

 

That's what the RAVE says, 15ft.lb. in sequence, then 90º in sequence, then 90º in sequence again.

jfall, a 1/2 turn is 180º, I hope that was was a typo.

 

you gentlemen are correct 1/4 then 1/4 again.