So i have a problem with my EA71 block, I need to take off the cylinder heads but there are some aluminum pipes that come off the top of each cylinder and then all meet at a central box. after that box they meet at a blue cylindrical box. I dont know what this is for but I can't get them off. I have tried and all of the wrenches that I use are bending open. A friend suggested cutting them off and reflaring the pipes afterwards. Any information would be great!

Yeah, those pipes suck. Soak them with PB blaster or some kind of penetrating oil, and you might have to use a little heat to get them to come loose. They are for the EGR system, I typically take them off, remove the pipes from the threaded parts, weld them up solid, then put them back. No more pipes that way, cleans up the engine bay a lot. There is also one on the back of the passenger side head that has to be undone to remove the manifold...

 

-Bill

Ahh, okay, sounds good. I need to try applying heat to it then. I soaked it a few times with a penitrating oil. Didn't have much luck with that though. Welding it up would work but would it pass emissions in california? thats the real question lol

probably not pass, this is like the latest in a series of threads of CA folks dealing with emissions limitations

 

it just sounds like a major drag, and it's not like I'm being followed by a hole in the ozone because I have a 48 state car

 

sorry you got to fight that crap

I agree. I'm hoping to be able to get this stuff off soon. I'm definitely considering doing a EJ conversion but i need to do some research first. I would love to have the extra power but I'm really new to modifying my car so any tips would be great. Looking to drop an EJ22 into it if i can.

those are not for the egr, they are for the air injection system, basically fresh air is introduced into the exhaust ports to reduce hydrocarbons. After you have soaked them in kroil or whatever, try using a small pipe wrench. I have a 6" pipe wrench for tubing nuts that require more than a flare nut wrench will give, however a 6" pipe wrench is VERY hard to find, and an 8" one will probably fit the space confinements.

 

good luck

 

-Mike

Awesome I have been trying to figure out what those pipes are for. you say that a pipe wrench will work pretty well to get the nuts off pretty well? you dont think a flare wrench will work for it?

I have found that even a flare wrenches start to open up on these little bastards, I used a big, big cresent wrench on the last ones I did, but it was out of the car when I did it. Once they start to come loose though they come out pretty easy.

 

Pipe wrench would prolly work, but make sure you can still get them back in, seeing as how you are in California where you actually need that stuff... Damn thats gotta suck :-\

 

-Bill