Need a mechanics tip if you know one

[Oldmactech]

3.0 03’

Slowly getting to taking the intake off to do the headgasket ran into a slowdown over getting the intake boot off. Basically the nut on the hose clamp is facing the wrong direction by 180 degrees both the intake boot and the smaller boot. I guess if I crawl under with a long screwdriver I could get on it but rather from up top.

Any tricks anyone?

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Oldmactech

3.0 03’

Slowly getting to taking the intake off to do the headgasket ran into a slowdown over getting the intake boot off. Basically the nut on the hose clamp is facing the wrong direction by 180 degrees both the intake boot and the smaller boot. I guess if I crawl under with a long screwdriver I could get on it but rather from up top.

Any tricks anyone?

Yep, PITA. I think that was put on as the car was being assembled in the factory before the engine was being placed in the engine bay. Common issue. I have heard of some loosening it to a point where you can rotate it around for easier access. Just get at it anyway you can but put it back on the proper way (so you can easily get to it) when you reassemble.

[andrewwynn]

Cut it then replace. Clearly the motor is assembled when motor is not in the car. I think I was able to get in with a 90° a adapter and two swivel joints but next time I hit this job Dremel will cut the band I'll replace with a new one!

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[Oldmactech]

Thanks, the small side of the boot has a tear at the accordion section so gonna need replace, might just cut it down to where I can work around it. Oh well, raining now anyway. Time for my pm nap.

[andrewwynn]

That's exactly where mine failed. Oh FYI I now remember exactly how I got mine off: I cut the old boot in half and easily reached my hand through the space to get to the bottom screw.

Bummer for me was that the replacement boot was crap: the copy cat looked exactly the same but the accordion bumps were only decoration on the outside so they didn't actually function so to have a working car I had to superglue my old boot back together. FYI only thing superglue sticks to better than rubber is skin so it's a perfect instant fix for split rubber on that accordion tube.

I bought a knock off because was the only Amazon prime option. Amazon also had the proper one which I exchanged the crap one for just took a few days to get and my boot that in addition to having about 4 "gills" in the small tube I actually cut in three pieces to remove before I realized the replacement was worthless.

Amazingly the old one glued back together perfectly and worked great for a week until I got the new one.

[Oldmactech]

Ouch. Yeah, I just need to get around it to get the bigger manifold bolt off.

My sons e36 had a split boot and I found some tape at Oreillys that sealed it great. 4 yrs later still good.

I’ll figure something out-just needs loosening a bit.

[kmm111]

I use a long one piece 1/4” drive extension (it’s about 30”s or so) & a 1/4” swivel bit to remove them. Occasionally I need to add to that extension but that’s fairly rare. I go in from the bottom & you do not need to remove the stiffening plate.

[andrewwynn]

If you want to get off non destructively I'll refer back to the Dremel solution: just be careful to not cut too deep Into the rubber.

[Russianblue]

I had the same issue and it was a total PITA. I can't remember EXACTLY what I did but I believe those clamps are 6mm. I think I used a very small ratchet. i'd have to go look at it to make sure.

[Oldmactech]

I’ve got a small ratchet and I just remembered I got a flexible extension for my birthday, if it stops raining, will get on it tomorrow.

Thnx