Just what the title states. Im swapping from auto to manual and wonder do i need to drop the exhaust at the manifolds or is there a place to separate it after the Y pipe? reason i ask is my heads have been helicoiled twice so i would rather not disturb them right now as they are not leaking. If worst comes to worst i will but i would rather not. I would just crawl under the car and look for myself except im an hour and a half away from it. Thanks in advance

I believe the Y pipe seperates behind the engine/transmission mating area, so i think it would be easier to pull the tranny without the exhaust up in there, but it might be possible without dropping it, but i don't think so.

Pull it - you won't get the tranny out if you don't.

 

GD

yea, there was no way around it when i did my last tranny swap.

so im assuming if i pull it i need new exhaust gaskets too? Thanks for the quick responses guys. Next weekend ill be doing this and after it finished ill post up the pics for all to see

i used the gaskets that were already there and had no leaks, *but they were still in good shape. if you want to do it the right way, go ahead and buy some new ones, but when i did the swap it was getting late and i needed to drive the car that next morning.

ok thanks Jon. Ill probably just shell out the 13 or so bucks for new gaskets. While ive got the exhaust off the manifold im going to get rid of the ASV system to clean stuff up a bit too. thanks everyone.

13$?!?!?!

 

IIRC (which I often don't ) they are a little over $3 from the dealer, maybe $4 and some change if you don't get wholesale....

 

But inspect the ones you have - usually I can re-use them if they aren't too old, and are OEM metal style. If you can see where the cardboard is starting to burn away, or evidence of carbon escaping, then replace them.

 

GD

ok well they were just replaced towards the end of the summer so they should still be good. Ill inspect them and reuse them if i can.

i've bought some from napa before for $4 ea. that was recently too, but that was on another car, just cause they were the originals and leaky.

stupid reminder here, but dont forget to factor in the heli-coils when deciding whether you want to replace them or re use them

Im anxious to see the pics of this beast.

stupid reminder here, but dont forget to factor in the heli-coils when deciding whether you want to replace them or re use them

 

Yeah - those short studs seem to be especially troublesome on the EA82's (EA81's had longer studs because of the ASV spacers). In lieu of the heli-coil's (which are out-of-budget more times than not I've found) you can tap the threads over to 7/16"x20 and use a bolt instead. No drilling is required, and if a return to the original size is wanted later, the heli-coil will still be possible.

 

GD

Yeah - those short studs seem to be especially troublesome on the EA82's (EA81's had longer studs because of the ASV spacers). In lieu of the heli-coil's (which are out-of-budget more times than not I've found) you can tap the threads over to 7/16"x20 and use a bolt instead. No drilling is required, and if a return to the original size is wanted later, the heli-coil will still be possible.

 

GD

 

So what you guys are saying is if i pull the y pipe at the manifold i will most likely need to get the the thing re-helicoiled?

So what you guys are saying is if i pull the y pipe at the manifold i will most likely need to get the the thing re-helicoiled?

 

It happens - about every other time I pull one I would say. I just tap them over though. Saves me loads on heli-coils. It's one of those things you learn to live with on a Subaru

 

GD