aluminum intake manifold removal HELP!

[Jeff C.]

Hello all, So this an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold installed in the seventies on a '74 K5 Blazer . I bought it in '86 .A rebuild was done in 88-89 .
Long story short I need to put in new gaskets. Bolts are out , a few broken, it's been a long time . The truck has always been maintained to be running.

I'm afraid of warping it by prying it off after separating it a bit somehow (maybe poking a flat screwdriver head in ?)
Any suggestions. All these years I've tried to keep all the original parts while maintaining so I want to avoid having to get a new one . This leak started when removing the rear bolt broke while removing the cable bracket during rebuilding the original 77 Quadrajet for fourth time (went well).

 

[Wes Harden]

One time, on a 68 mustang, the manifold was stuck. I ended up bolting a chain to the manifold carb flange, sticking a 4x4 through the chain to the shock tower on other side and prying up. Is was still a fight.
Razor the front and back across the vallies

 

[Jeff C.]

Ok, no shock towers but maybe other direction from top of fire wall to front and use a cylinder jack .
So tug from above as a unit..... Thanks WesOk understand the razor, what about pushing like a two inch putty blade with a flattened edge

 

[Bent77]

Ok, no shock towers but maybe other direction from top of fire wall to front and use a cylinder jack .
So tug from above as a unit..... Thanks WesOk understand the razor, what about pushing like a two inch putty blade with a flattened edge

That’s my preferred method. With the front edge and then the face against the port walls

Just confirm you pulled all of the bolts….

 

[Jeff C.]

That’s my preferred method. With the front edge and then the face against the port walls

Just confirm you pulled all of the bolts….

With the putty blade right? Ha... on the bolts and 'You lick cactus?'

 

[centexk5]

Crow bar in the thermostat hole and pry has always worked well for me. Not the thermostat housing, but the hole the thermostat sits in.

 

[Chickntrk]

I’ve forgotten to remove one bolt from things more times than I care to admit and then spent more time than I care to admit cussing when it won’t budge…..agree verifying all bolts are out, could use a cherry picker with a carb plate….if the engine lifts out of the bay you missed a bolt somewhere

 

[HankScorpio]

I don't think you will warp it by prying with a screwdriver but I would worry about marring the surface in that area and causing a leak when you put it all back together. I would attack it with a putty knife also. You might be able to bolt a chain to one of the other holes like thermostat or carb bolts and then have a spot to pull from with a large prybar.

 

[Jeff C.]

Crow bar in the thermostat housing and pry has always worked well for me.

Ok, thanks

I’ve forgotten to remove one bolt from things more times than I care to admit and then spent more time than I care to admit cussing when it won’t budge…..agree verifying all bolts are out, could use a cherry picker with a carb plate….if the engine lifts out of the bay you missed a bolt somewhere

Ok Thanks

 

[Jeff C.]

Ok, no shock towers but maybe other direction from top of fire wall to front and use a cylinder jack .
So tug from above as a unit..... Thanks WesOk understand the razor, what about pushing like a two inch putty blade with a flattened edge

Made a similar set-up and popped right off. Thanks Wes!!!!