How to remove the twins?

[Daston]

Hey guys,

Looks like my manifold is blowing and I need to get the twins off. All the guides and manuals i've seen have the engine out of the car or are LHD.

Does anyone have a guide on how to do it with the engine in the car? Does the steering rack need to come out?

 

[jack.am]

You can either loosen the engine mounts and jack up that side of the car, or disconnect the steering column. After that it's just a matter of seized nuts and skinned knuckles.

 

[Nas80]

Snapped studs. These are expensive

 

[JDK]

As above, just keep removing parts until you get to the manifold - I did it without loosening the engine mounts, I did remove the steering column

 

[richie2912]

easy enough with the steering column disconnected. As already said just remove bits until its out. Just label the vac lines up and maybe take some pictures if your unsure on hose placement etc.

 

[jdmr_neil]

As above, just keep removing parts until you get to the manifold - I did it without loosening the engine mounts, I did remove the steering column

Same here! I was expecting it to be an awful job but actually it was fine. The dp was the biggest grief, once that was off it was fine. A crowbar i found was helpful.

 

[Adam]

Penetrating fluid on everything. Let it soak in overnight

 

[JoeLanger]

I found it easier leaving the steering colum in place and just jacking the engine up slightly to get the downpipe off, with the engine mount nut removed

the trickiest part I found is the front oil drain, bastart to get at the bolts.

expect it to take 8 hours first time, 4 hours second time
if the mani doesn't come off you've prob missed a bolt

 

[Mid Night FD]

I would recommend you get new studs and nuts ready if you're planning to do it in a day or two. You may be lucky but I found usually the nuts tear the studs a new one when removing.

 

[Daston]

I would recommend you get new studs and nuts ready if you're planning to do it in a day or two. You may be lucky but I found usually the nuts tear the studs a new one when removing.

Good shout, is it best to get them direct from Mazda?

Also if my manifold is toast what are my options? Can I get a new one or just get the old one repaired?

 

[Mid Night FD]

Good shout, is it best to get them direct from Mazda?

Also if my manifold is toast what are my options? Can I get a new one or just get the old one repaired?

I got from mazda, pretty expensive though. If your not in a rush and the car can sit you can order only what's needed as it gets pricey replacing all, something like £4 a nut and £6-8 a stud which adds up.There's other options than oem for nuts/studs. As for manifold, good 2nd hand is probably a better/safer bet, I'm sure someone will have one kicking about. It could be a bad crack on the twins exhaust housings as this is common.

 

[Sturneyrx7]

Good shout, is it best to get them direct from Mazda?

Also if my manifold is toast what are my options? Can I get a new one or just get the old one repaired?

pretty sure Walton motorsport do a nice single turbo manifold.....

 

[Daston]

I got from mazda, pretty expensive though. If your not in a rush and the car can sit you can order only what's needed as it gets pricey replacing all, something like £4 a nut and £6-8 a stud which adds up.There's other options than oem for nuts/studs. As for manifold, good 2nd hand is probably a better/safer bet, I'm sure someone will have one kicking about. It could be a bad crack on the twins exhaust housings as this is common.

Thanks will get it all off and see whats what. Dont get much spanner time these days with the kids so it will be done as and when.

I'll try and keep a thread going so you can laugh at my bleeding hands and curses

 

[Daston]

pretty sure Walton motorsport do a nice single turbo manifold.....

I was seriously thinking of a single but now having 2 children we cant all fit in the RX so theres a question mark over if I keep it or not

 

[Tangelos]

Dude if you’re looking for a second hand manifold I have one laying around if you want

 

[JoeLanger]

Regarding studs, there are no alternatives to OEM I've tried. They are made from inconel to withstand the heat, £4each from Mazda. I'll have the part numbers kicking around somewhere

IMO the OEM nuts are shit, in the end I just used regular steel nuts and they are holding up fine. I think OEM is copper, but they lock on and rip the threads when removing.

Yeah second-hand manifold I've got one with a stud stuck in it. Lol

 

[jack.am]

The OEM nuts are designed to bind onto the studs, just makes them a cunt to remove and retorque. IIRC all my studs came out of the manifold and block with the nuts on them.

People have welded and ground back cracked manifolds, but it’s a lot of hassle.

 

[Wolfie1]

The last time i put my rebuilt twins back on i used titanium nuts, have never tried to take it off again and really hope i havent made a really bad decision.................

 

[Daston]

Slowly stripping stuff down on top. Once the weather gets better I will drag it onto the drive and get it in the air. A lot of the old pipes look tired so will replace them with silicone. Strange thing is this engine was rebuilt just before I purchased the care and they changed some vac pioes but not all.

 

[jdmr_neil]

That brings back memories