Repair 7

1964 Thunderbird Exhaust Manifold Removal

The 1964 Ford Thunderbird was fitted only with the 390 cubic-inch engine. The 390 was a big-block engine and featured exhaust manifolds that tilted downward at a sharp angle, making removal difficult. To make matters worse, the Thunderbirds engine compartment was relatively small. Whereas the exhaust manifolds on most cars of the time could be removed from the top of the engine compartment, the Thunderbirds limited access requires that some bolts be removed from above the car and the others from underneath it.

Instructions

1

Raise the hood and remove the bolt at the center of the manifold, the three bolts at the front of the manifold and the bolt at the top of the back end of the manifold with a wrench.

2

Raise the front of the car with a jack to increase the work space underneath the car, then lower the Thunderbird onto safety stands.

3

Remove the two bolts that secure the exhaust pipe to the back of the manifold with a wrench, then pull the pipe away from the manifold.

4

Remove the two remaining exhaust manifold bolts from underneath the car with a wrench.

5

Pull the manifold off of the cylinder head from above the engine compartment.

6

Guide the manifold out of the engine compartment from underneath the vehicle.