How To Remove The Notorious Turbo Manifold Nut!!

Started by tjs91tsi · Sep 3, 2008 · 24postsSMF 2010–26

tjs91tsiSep 3, 2008, 1:50 pm · #1

Hey. Mods if this should go to the how to, feel free to move it there, if not, dont. I wasnt quite sure what should be done, guess it can be found if searched for. Anyway I think this will make for a nice guide to getting that nut off...

Anyway, I just bought my 85 turbo hatch with a blown turbo and major exhaust leak... So, pulling the turbo was in order. Getting everything off is basically easy, the banjo bolt behind the turbos kinda rough and getting the downpipe off was annoying but not to big a deal.

Untill I got to the lower, rearmost head to manifold nut. I searched and found that people cut a wrench halfway or bent one to fit properly to get it off. I tinkered with it for a while, checked to see if there was access from the bottom, untill I remembered I had this.
posted image

Yes its a 9/16th's wrench, but in a pinch it works damn well. Its bent at roughly 180 degrees.

Still takes some patience but no contorting of body parts necessary. Hope this helps.

Sincerely Tyler/

RB25sx - SLPRSep 3, 2008, 2:58 pm · #2

That is the greatest tool ever invented..

SprockCapnJan 20, 2009, 3:55 pm · #3

I was just curious as I'm having to deal with this now. I'm pretty sure all of the other bolts are 14mm not 9/16. This is the last bolt that i need to get too I just wanted to make sure and get the right tool.

kyskaterJan 20, 2009, 11:02 pm · #4

9/16 is practiclly a 14 just a few thousands off

SprockCapnJan 20, 2009, 11:25 pm · #5

kyskater9/16 is practiclly a 14 just a few thousands off

Do you by chance know what the tool is called and where I can possibly find one. I have been all over looking for one. Thanks

EightySix200SXJan 20, 2009, 11:39 pm · #6

lol i hope i sont have to do this it was still troublesome with the motor out lol

DraconisJan 21, 2009, 1:07 am · #7

That sure could have been helpful. Ah well, my knuckles/fingers were too frozen to feel much anyway.

nismologistJan 21, 2009, 2:35 am · #8

you can get the tool ina mac catalouge

DraconisJan 21, 2009, 2:39 am · #9

nismologistyou can get the tool ina mac catalouge

Thanks man! But with the Mac on the tool I think we *maybe* could have figured that out.

ArroJan 30, 2009, 12:24 am · #10

OMFG I hated that part when I was installing my turbo on my CA18ET... I ended up going with stubby closed wrenches, the effect was the same, but the control is a bit better....

posted image

I think given the need now, I'd go with these ratcheting ones:

...or make your own, like I think Bart or someone else on here did:

sideways_s12Jan 30, 2009, 4:09 am · #11

yup waylon and I made our own haha Man I can't wait to get that top mount from bart it'll be sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier to get to that nut haha

SprockCapnFeb 1, 2009, 12:40 pm · #12

ArroOMFG I hated that part when I was installing my turbo on my CA18ET... I ended up going with stubby closed wrenches, the effect was the same, but the control is a bit better....

I think given the need now, I'd go with these ratcheting ones:

...or make your own, like I think Bart or someone else on here did:

I think I'm retarded. I have these tools and never once thought of the stubby tools! I thought about cutting one but forgot about the stubby wrenches. I'm going to go try those right now. Wish me luck.

ArroFeb 2, 2009, 12:05 am · #13

yeah the stubbies worked for me on my CA18ET. I wish I had those ratcheting ones tho at the time, those are nice! Good luck

tjs91tsiFeb 5, 2009, 7:28 pm · #14

Sorry yes, it is technically a 14mm. A 9/16th "works." While I never recommend or say that metric and standard are interchangeable, im sure the little bit of extra freeplay was helpfull in getting it on and off.

I dont have any junk or cheapo tools to cut and I remembered I had that so I tried it. It worked flawlessly. I had no problems at all, once I got the rythm down, the nut went right on. (thats what she said) lol Sorry.

Tyler.

JulieFeb 5, 2009, 7:43 pm · #15

i think im gonna buy a set of those ratcheting wrenches before i install my ET's turbo

EightySix200SXFeb 6, 2009, 11:09 am · #16

i dont know yalls pain yet. as i did all the gaskets on my motor set so hopefully i wont have to touch it for some time. i did all them out of the car even then that nut i can see will still be a bitch.

SprockCapnFeb 6, 2009, 11:18 am · #17

I got one from sears that is not the complete 180 and it is not turned enough. I can't seem to find that one here and the only MAC ones I can find are a set for like $250. So well see. I'm gonna have to figure out how to get it all the way off since I'm gonna re-tap the holes for the studs so they are deeper and do new gaskets on that side. So well see. I wish I could just find that one stupid tool in town!

Cajun1guyFeb 8, 2009, 9:38 pm · #18

I hope I did this right! I use a Snap-On wrench, SBXM 1415 and I cut off the 15 mm boxend to clear the firewall. Works great for me, real easy to get max torque.

oh well, link gets you there. Still don't get the picture thing..

Moderator Edit: next time, use [img] on either side of the link to display the image in the post.except that the one on the end is /img and in brackets.

street_rulerMar 18, 2009, 9:15 pm · #19

if anyone wants to know, that tool that is saped in a HALF MOON is called a HALF MOON wrench.

common for ford and chevy starters mostly. good luck finding one in metric but 9/6ths is dead on for 14mm

SprockCapnMar 18, 2009, 10:08 pm · #20

Ha. I just took that stud out and now use a bolt in there with a lock washer and have not had the problem since. I also made a special little took that comes in real handy!

posted image

KeithMar 18, 2009, 11:25 pm · #21

don't know how many know this.....but if you take the turbo off first...it frees up the mani bolts pretty good. Food for thought

Nick_WApr 3, 2009, 11:31 am · #22

Is it easier to remove the turbo first, or the whole mani?

KeithApr 3, 2009, 2:54 pm · #23

Nick_W
Is it easier to remove the turbo first, or the whole mani?

see above post.....

derekleeMar 8, 2010, 6:36 pm · #24

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I took my turbo off, and I had quite a bit of trouble getting that bolt out, broke a wrench so it'd be shorter, then I dropped some tools down through the vent in front of windshield, while getting those out I found a stubby 14mm someone had lost

My second pain in the ass was getting that damned oil line off that goes kind of in the middle of the turbo, grr not looking forward to putting it all together!