Need advise from those of you that have removed the intake manifold extension without dropping the engine.
I don't have any issues with the engine, but since the car is parked for the winter I figured it would be nice to take the throttle body and manifold extension out to look over it and give it a cleanse.
Plus, I've never done it before so I wanted the experience of doing it.

Anyway, I removed the throttle body and also the bolts attaching the manifold extension to the intake manifold (boy those rear bolts were a PITA).
So I THOUGHT I removed what was needed, but got a rude awakening when the driver's side of the manifold extension didn't rise.
It was then I noticed the extension manifold is mounted to a bracket on the oil filler pipe (refer to the attached pic).

The two nuts are hard to reach and would require me to perform a "U" to get around the bracket and reach the nuts (option 1 in attached pic).

I also noticed two bolts securing the oil filler pipe to the oil pan (option 2 in attached pic).

My question is (to those who have actually removed the manifold extension) is which option would be easier/better and what pros/cons can you think of with either?

One option I thought of was removing the driver's side wheel and going straight up to the bracket from underneath.
Only problem with that is the Ohio winter weather prohibits me from doing much and I don't have a garage, so I would rather not jack the car up while its snowing.

Thanks in advance!

 

this is the way i have always done it.

 

Interesting...
So those two are up higher than where the bracket is or are you referring to "option 1"?
They appear to be in the same location (in the drawing and from what I recall seeing).
Thanks G3tR3DDY2GR3DDY

 

Another thought:
If I went with removing "option 2" that connects the oil filler tube to the oil pan, will I have to drain out some oil first?
Is the oil level up higher than the flange?

I'm going to look into removing the 10mm nuts from the bracket (option 1) since that seems "safer".
Maybe I can get a nut driver under there.
Can anyone think of another tool they used to get those nuts off?

 

i just used a really small wrench. Thats the way i have always done it. They just go through the oil thing, no oil to drain. Please dont remove the whole oil filler assy. its not necessary.

 

OK... sounds good, I'll give that a shot.
Thanks again!

 

1/4" drive ratchet with a swivel and a 10mm socket from the top.
3/8" drive ratchet with an 18" extension and a 10mm socket on your back going up from underneath.

I've done both.

 

how many people you really know with an 18" extension ??

 

I dunno. A dozen, I guess. Its pretty common.
Even a 14" will probably reach it and everyone has one of those.

 

Thanks for the advise MM.
I have a 12" extension and a couple smaller ones I could combine.
But I'll try from above first.

 

So this morning was a chilly 26 degrees in Akron, Ohio.
I might have felt the cold if my extremities weren't numb.

Anyway... I followed MM's advise and used a swivel to get under the bracket.
It was still tough to turn, but once it was loose I was able to use two fingers to unscrew the bolts.

I removed the coils, which gave me a little more hand room.
Plus it prepared me for the BHR coils which should arrive by the time I start reassembling everything (no rush with the snow).

I was surprised that the inside of the intake manifold extension was VERY clean.
I even actuated the SSV with a hand vacuum pump and it open/closed pretty well.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure: