Replacing gasket between exhaust manifold and turbo.

[Spins]

Is it possible to replace this gasket without removing the exhaust manifold? It looks like a pita. My gasket blew a few days ago. If I must remove the entire manifold should I buy the kit with a new exhaust manifold gasket, studs etc. or just go with the $15 turbo to manifold gasket. My maniflold and turbo are stock not planning on upgrading.

[Hijacker]

you've gotta pull the whole manifold. There are 4 nuts that hold the turbo to the manifold, and the rear two are impossible to get off while the mani's still in the car. Aside from no room to work with, you have to get the lock tabs folded out, and you can't do that with the whole thing in the car.

you should be able to reuse the old exhaust mani gasket. as long as it looks good. any tears or blowouts of its layers, then you shoudl replace it. And the studs should be ok too, as long as they look in good shape.

[DawgMode]

Where did you get your replacement gasket???

[RobDET]

I got mine from nissan OEM 1993 sentra SE-R... you can replace it without taking the turbo off the manifold too... just undo your exhaust at the turbo elbow and it's no biggie.

[Hijacker]

spins wants to replace the 4 hole gasket that seals the turbo to the manifold. he was asking if he shoudl replace the manifold to head gasket if he pulls the whole manifold off.

Heavy throttle carries all exhaust gaskets that you might need

[RobDET]

Ahh... i can't read. I was able to bend the tabs up and take my turbo off with the manny in the car. It's a HUGE pain in the butt though. Probibly easier just to take the turbo+manny+outlet out as a group. Then you gotta deal with the lines though and they can be pretty PITA.

Once you do get it off you can go to nissan and order studs from a 200sx Turbo to replace any that might get screwed up in the turbo removal. Also there are some crush nuts from the nissan maxima exhaust manifold that work great with the studs. They eliminate the need for the little metal tabs AND keep the bolts from backing off. I had serious trouble with the turbo comming off the manny after i lostened those bolts.

[mynismo]

i took just the stock turbo off, but it was a complete pita

just take the manifold off, its only 8 bolts, then unbolt after turbo outlet (3 bolts). you should be able to take everything out in less than 30 minutes.

[Spins]

I order a kit from project silva. containing 1 exhaust manifold gasket, 1 manifold to turbo gasket.4 studs and nuts. for $65 shipped. I'm gonna go ahead and remove the manifold,seems the easiest way. Should I beable to leave the (dump pipe or o2 pipe) connected when I remove everything. That thing is a pain to install with the turbo on the car.

[RobDET]

Yah... Unbolt the exhaust manifold from the head and the down pipe from the O2 extension. Then the Manny, Turbo, extension come out as one big peice. You have to do some twisting and turning to get it out but it'll work

[Spins]

I managed to get it out today. What a pain. The supply lines for oil and coolant sux. I have working a/c with a custom low pressure line, so it was a tight fit. When I finally got it out two of the four bolts that hold the turbo to the manifold where actually loose. The retaining metal tabs where keeping them from falling off. So I guess they did their job. I'm guessing it was due to the gasket or lack there of. I'm gonna use some lock washers and reuse the tabs just for some extra insurance. I don't want to remove this thing again. thanks for everything.

[RobDET]

I took the tabs off so i can use a stubby wrench to tighten the nuts if i need to. I havn't htough sence i used stainless lock washers and those locking nuts from nissan.