Intake manifold removal

[78 280zcar]

I was wondering how hard it is to get the intake manifold off on a fuel injected Z, my intake is leaking and in need of a new gasket. I was looking at it earlier and it looks pretty rough getting in there to get the bolts off, is it attached to the exhaust manifold also. Let me know what you guys think and an easy way to get to those bolts. Thanks

[2ManyZs]

The intake and exhaust share some of the same mounting studs and some of them are a PITA to get to.

The best way is to find some wobble extensions and both shallow and deep well sockets along with a couple wrenches and take your time, you can get to them all, it just takes a little patience. Some of them, it's best to use two short wobble extensions together to get the correct angle to get the socket on the mounting nut. By wobble extensions I don't mean the sockets with the universal joints. Go to the nearest Sears and ask them for a wobble extension and they should have what you need. They come in handy and are a good addition to anyone's toolbox.

The hardest part of taking the intake and exhaust off a 280 is unhooking all the wiring and the fuel lines IMO. Be careful not to lose any of the wire retainer clips on the wiring harness plugs, and don't try to force the plugs apart as they tend to get a little brittle in their old age.

Once all the wiring is out of the way, you can usually see most all of the mounting nuts on the intake/exhaust. Just be sure when you put it back together to put the cone shaped spacers back on the shared studs so that the intake/exhaust are torqued alike.

[78 280zcar]

Thanks 2manyz's, what about the heat shield in between the two manifolds, what holds that on there.

[2ManyZs]

I think on the 280's it's bolted to the bottom of the intake manifold. You just have to feel around for them.....

[St.stephen]

There's supposed to be four or six bolts that hold the heat shield in place under the intake on the 280. Most of them have either rattled loose and fallen out or most PO's remove most of them and only put two back in because most get fed up because they can be awkward to get in an out.

the lower intake/exhaust bolts are located in between the exhaust webbing for lack of a better term. you just need to feel around for them and use a long 1/2 extension and ratchet.