Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

[LilRedNeckGirl]

!985 Wellcraft, Twin 140 Sterndrive, Port engine has a small exaust manifold gasket leak. This engine runs well, and the leak is a slight "pft' pft' pft" sound. Is this a engine pull project? I have tools, @ complete mechanics set plus torque wrench, and two different manuals. Can I get an estamate on time and difficulty level on this type of gasket replacment?
Just a foot note, I recently posted on an engine pull/ engine coupler replacment. Thanks bunches to all those that replied. With your opinions and advise, pictures and knowledge, I was able to prove to the shop owner that the coupler failure was most likely caused by mechanics error, and ended up getting the repair bill discounted by just over $1000.00 .

 

[Bondo]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

!985 Wellcraft, Twin 140 Sterndrive, Port engine has a small exaust manifold gasket leak. This engine runs well, and the leak is a slight "pft' pft' pft" sound. Is this a engine pull project? I have tools, @ complete mechanics set plus torque wrench, and two different manuals. Can I get an estamate on time and difficulty level on this type of gasket replacment?
Just a foot note, I recently posted on an engine pull/ engine coupler replacment. Thanks bunches to all those that replied. With your opinions and advise, pictures and knowledge, I was able to prove to the shop owner that the coupler failure was most likely caused by mechanics error, and ended up getting the repair bill discounted by just over $1000.00 .

Ayuh,... On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd put it at a 5,...

Probably quite doable in the boat, if ya can get at it...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

You should not have to pull the engine to change the exhaust gasket. It is all do-able with the engine in the boat.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

great, no engine pull, im game. snow in the forecast today & tomorrow, so Ill get the boat home later in the week and set aside time next weekend. any guestamate on how many hours i should expect to spend on this project?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

great, no engine pull, im game. snow in the forecast today & tomorrow, so Ill get the boat home later in the week and set aside time next weekend. any guestamate on how many hours i should expect to spend on this project?

Ayuh,... Dependin' on access, figure a 1/2 a day...

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

BooYaa... Girl has wrench, Girl will twist bolts. Thanks bunches...

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

...and two different manuals...

Not sure what's in your manuals and you may have already read about this but I have read that a little trick in helping with the weight while you get the manifold back on is to temporarily use a couple manifold bolts (or equivalent threaded rod) with the heads cut off to support the manifold while you get the regular bolts installed first then replace the temporary "supports" with the right bolts.

Mark

 

[pyrotek]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

...temporarily use a couple manifold bolts (or equivalent threaded rod) with the heads cut off to support the manifold while you get the regular bolts installed first then replace the temporary "supports" with the right bolts.
Mark

Second this great advice. Best thing I ever learned on this forum and guarantees a good seal. Two things to get hung up on, 1. Boat access and 2. Rusted bold heads. I had rusted bolt heads and had to drill a few out. Took me days.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

Ayuh,... Dependin' on access, figure a 1/2 a day...

Murphy law on time Estimation.
To estimate the time it takes to do a task: estimate the time you think it should take, multiply by two and change the unit of measure to the next highest unit. Thus, we allocate two days for a one hour task.

1/2 Day > 1 Full day > 1 Week!

Sorry! Couldn't resist!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Exaust Manafold gasket, Should I or Shouldnt I?

Yup, that freaking Murphy guy . . . I finally asked him to stop 'helping' me . . .

FWIW - one of the techniques that I have used on my 454 manifolds (heavy) is to install loosely a couple of the middle most bolts so that the thing can hold itself in a balanced manner while I install the remaining bolts and check the gasket for alignment, etc. . . Then I tighten and torque them all.