Hey Mini brothren!

I'm hoping you guys can save my bacon. I'm trying to remove the intake manifold to access the water pipe (like everyone else on the forums) and I've searched far and wide for someone that had a stuck manifold and it appears that I'm the only one. I've removed all 5 of the manifold bolts as well as the noise maker piping behind the maniform and I can not get the manifold off.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for this? Kind of dying over here.

 

I have never removed a manifold from a MINI but have had a lot of stuck parts and manifolds. My go to product is kroil penetrating oil. Soak the parts and let sit for a day or two. I just put a header on my 76 TR6, the manifolds had never been off. I started soaking the bolts and sides of the manifolds a month before at least once a week. I was driving the car so it did get heat cycled during that time, it came a part easy. I replaced all the manifold studs and nuts and the old ones came out of the head with no issues. I stress I have never worked on a MINI head and my experience is with vintage English Roadsters. Please post you solution as I am sure I will be faced with the same issue at some time in the future.

Thanks Jim

 

I'd also consider a few light taps with a nylon mallet..

 

Hey, there is lower bolt you need to get too. Look at figure 14.

See this article: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...eplacement.htm

 

Thanks, 400mphpc!

That makes perfect sense. It would prevent the manifold from even moving. I'll take a look at this and follow up!

Thanks a ton guys!

 

Yep and sometimes the gasket sticks to the head and the intake a little bit, might want to hold it with both hands and rocket it a hair then pulls off.

 

Thanks ECS Tuning! I ordered my new Thermostat housing from you guys!

-L

 

Welcome. Thaks for the order.

 

Intake is finally off. There was a ton of eletrical clips holding the harness to the intake.

Don't forget about the bolt underneath the throttle body.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

That lower bolt is usually left off when the intake manifold is reinstalled....even by dealer techs......