How low can you go?

[Mindz]

That raised look is called "Boxing" the car. Mostly done to Older muscle cars, Caddies and Pontiacs. The racist acronym for pontiac explains why. It's the fad and actually ingenious idea to the people who want big rims to "skate" on the road. Personally I don't like the look of it.

[theholycow]

Hmm...I've never heard it called "Boxing", I've always heard of that style of car referred to as a "Donk".

I can't figure out how the racist acronym for Pontiac would explain it, either, but maybe we're thinking of different ones. Are you talking about "Poor Old N***** Thinks It's A Cadillac"?

[GTAHVIT]

I can certainly appreciate lowriders, and sport trucks.

I can even appreciate the Donk. But I have to try real hard to understand why you'd do that. Not a big fan.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Anybody feel like handholding me through basic repairs I've never done before?

what kinda repairs you doin?

[theholycow]

Well, I think my first repair will be what I'm pretty sure is a warped exhaust manifold. I've asked around a bit but I can't get a straight answer on whether or not I'll need to take the heads off and have them machined, or if it's more common that the manifold is the only part that's warped.

Then I don't really know how to do it. It seems simple enough, I think: just unbolt the manifold, replace, and torque to spec (maybe alternating bolts to torque it evenly and gently), but I don't know if there's anything else I'll need to do.

After that I'll have to do the rest of the exhaust (no problem, I can handle that), a general tune-up and new plug wires (again, no problem); but then I'll have to tune the carburetor... :(

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Mindz

That raised look is called "Boxing" the car. Mostly done to Older muscle cars, Caddies and Pontiacs. The racist acronym for pontiac explains why. It's the fad and actually ingenious idea to the people who want big rims to "skate" on the road. Personally I don't like the look of it.

I thought that boxes and bubbles, and one other, reffered to the style of the car itself, particularly the roof. donks come from the 'redonkulous' sized rims that go on some of these cars. so you can have a box with donks

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Well, I think my first repair will be what I'm pretty sure is a warped exhaust manifold. I've asked around a bit but I can't get a straight answer on whether or not I'll need to take the heads off and have them machined, or if it's more common that the manifold is the only part that's warped.

Then I don't really know how to do it. It seems simple enough, I think: just unbolt the manifold, replace, and torque to spec (maybe alternating bolts to torque it evenly and gently), but I don't know if there's anything else I'll need to do.

After that I'll have to do the rest of the exhaust (no problem, I can handle that), a general tune-up and new plug wires (again, no problem); but then I'll have to tune the carburetor... :(

you might just have a blown exhaust gasket. id swap out the gasket first to check, you can get some that are 4 layer style press-fit gaskets that conform to the gap between the head and manifold to ensure a good seal

as for torquing them down, start by threading them all in to make sure you havent cross threaded anything, then start in the middle and torque it down, then one to the left, then one to the right, going back and forth (L and R) till they are all tightened. then continue to check the tightness of them for the next month as they might back out during the break in period

[theholycow]

Thanks! Between that and other documents I found, I finally have the information I need. Turns out Auto Zone's website has decent repair manuals online for free, I was looking for the manifold there and it came up with instructions and torque specifications...I think the only thing it didn't say was the pattern I should use when torquing, which you've given me.

I ordered Chilton's and Haynes books from eBay but the ones I've had from the local library don't get into much detail about the exhaust manifold...

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d800b0ce7.jsp includes details and decent pictures.
http://www.autozone.com/R,SPEC18673/...pecsSelect.htm says 31-40 ft lbs, even though every other reference says 25...wtf?

[CamaroSpike23]

which size v-8 do you have?

the 5.7L motors all have a 25 ft lb torque, but the 4.9L has a 35 ft lb torque

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

you can get some that are 4 layer style press-fit gaskets that conform to the gap between the head and manifold to ensure a good seal

Is there a brand name for these?

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

which size v-8 do you have?

the 5.7L motors all have a 25 ft lb torque, but the 4.9L has a 35 ft lb torque

4.1L V6.