I think I must be doing something wrong. I can't remove the water pipe. It hits the linkage I've circled. All of the videos I've researched simply show it coming right out. Mine is not. Do I need to loosen the linkage in order to hopefully make enough room for the removal? If so, anyone know what size the star bolts are, slso that I've circled, and exactly what they're called as I'll need to source the correct socket. Thanks so much for your input!

 

Looks like something has shifted on you, as it should of come out through the side easy (left)

 

Dude - I thought I responded to this on another one of your posts. Those are reverse hex bolts and I think they hold in your shifter cables. Buy a set from home depot and you will use them for the rest of your life. They offer better purchase than hex bolts and are becoming more common on quality built products. They even hold the calipers on my FIL's '18 Ford Explorer. Make sure you are not caught on wires and juno under the manifold and that the manifold support bolts are all removed.. then bobs your uncle!

 

@Lancaster also known Reverse torx,... They are seen on alot of German, British, and recently american vehicles.
@jce333