Help-replacing my exhaust manifold

[kainvamp]

I am in the middle of replacing my manifold right now, but it got dark, I was getting frustrated and ill have finish tomorow. But here is my problem, I have the turbo elbow and downpipe off, and all bolts off the stock manifold, but I cant seem to get the bolts off from the manifold to the turbo! There is some metal spacer thing that bends around the nuts so I cant get a wrench on them.

can I get the manifold and turbo out together so it would be easier to take apart? Is the only things keeping me from getting the manifild and turbo out together the hard lines to the turbo or is it bolted onto something I cant see?

Any input would be appreciated greatly

[garagelu]

Its pretty tough to get those tabs off. Its pretty much impossible. The front tabs are pretty easy to bend but in the back are the ones that are impossible.

Easiest way is to just pull the manifold with the turbo together. Then replace those tabs with grade 8 nuts and lock washers. Make sure you unbolt the oil and coolant lines before you pull it out.

[oki_bum]

Yea, just pull the manifold and turbo together. I did several weeks ago. It took some maneuvering, but it will come out together.

[kainvamp]

Thanks guys, yea it was those tabs that were pissin me off haha. Finally got everything out with a little maneuvering and used lock washers instead of putting those tabs back.

[otterman]

Those tabs suck ***. When I had my bottom mount, I took a flathead screw driver and bent the **** outta the tabs too. I didn't want to have antifreeze and oil all over the place by taking off the turbo.

[kainvamp]

Luckily no oil spilled out since i guess it drained out of the turbo overnight, but i did lose an assload of coolant which also luckily is still just water right now...better get some antifreeze in soon tho i guess.

[Emperor_Tha]

is there a picture of how the tab looks like?

[kainvamp]

I dont have any pics, but they are simple. Just a thin piece of metal that is bolted on and then bent up to keep the nuts from spinning off I guess. Its no trouble once you get it outta the engine bay, its just really hard to see and actually get to them when its on.

[ILikeMy240sx]

without those tabs your turbo to manifold nuts WILL come loose! Those lock washers pretty much become useless at the temperatures that the manifold is at during operation.

First of all, you are SUPPOSED to take out the manifold and the turbo as an assembly. Just drain the coolant as oil will not spill out.

Get a new set of tabs and put them back on. I will guarantee that in few months those nuts are going to come off with just spring washers.

[kainvamp]

I guess you make a point, I think i may still have those old ones laying around and i can just bend them back. the funny thing is tho, 1 of the nuts were already off when I took it out even with the tabs in place lol

[ILikeMy240sx]

yes, they do come loose even with the tabs on there sometimes. This why you need to make sure that your tabs are in good condition (i.e. NEW) when you put them on. Exhaust leak between the turbo and the manifold means less exhaust energy going into your turbo. You really want to avoid this.

Also, a dab of red locktite on all the nuts can't hurt.

IMO, what works the best is deforming locking nut. Not locking washers, not nuts with nylon inserts but the ones that actually physically deform once you start threading to create a lock. It's very difficult to find tho as it is primarily used on aircraft applications.

Deforming nut + locktite + new locking tabs.

[whiplash willy]

Any idea where to find these deforming nuts?