<VV> RE: Exhaust down tube replacement

[Jim McLott]

David,

I don't know about all the exhaust down-tubes, but I can say from experience that the #5 tube (passenger side, farthest toward the front of the car) CAN be removed with the engine in the car and the head on the engine.  Been there, done that, skinned knuckles and all.

There's an article in the CORSA Tech Guide on how to do this.  In short, you have to loosen the lower stud and remove the push rod tube.  Then you soak the head/tube joint with PB Blaster.  Let it sit at least a couple of hours (a day is even better) and then put the biggest socket you can in the tube.  The tube can then be twisted out with a pair of water pump pliers or a pipe wrench.  There's just barely enough room to do this.  Don't rock the tube back and forth any more than you have to; you want to avoid enlarging the hole in the head. 

To install the replacement tube, coat the inside of the hole in the head with anti-seize.  Then go to Radio Shack and get a spray can of freon, used to chill electronic components.  Spray the end of the tube until it's so cold you can hardly stand to hold it. Then tap it into place with a wooden block and a hammer.

Since you had to remove a push rod tube, this is a good time to put in Viton o-rings.  Finally, you'll have to adjust the valves.  When you get to that point, come back and we'll give you some advice on how to do that.  ;-)

Jim McLott & Christine, the 1966 Monza convertible wonder-car
Member: CORSA, Corvair Atlanta, Heart of Georgia Corvairs and Group Red (ret.)
http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/groupred/mclott.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org on behalf of Craig Nicol
Sent: Thu 10/25/2007 2:59 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org; dfasgold at yahoo.com
Subject: <VV> RE: Exhaust down tube replacement
 
<snip>
David, the exhaust down-tube cannot be removed with the cylinder head in
place.  
</snip>