Manifold and Fuel Rail Removal.

[NeoMishMoo]

Ok so I am trying to fix up an extra engine I have before swapping it into my car. I have been trying to remove the manifold and valve cover for a little polish & Paint. I read the pelican parts article and my Bentley manual and they say that once you remove the bolts the fuel rail should just lift off.

How does this work? My fuel rail is not pulling out, it is stuck or something. The manuals are making it seem really simple but it just isn't coming out.

I disconnected the fuel lines and tried to remove the manifold with the fuel rail still attached. It will almost come off except the middle stud that the fuel rail sits on is twice as long as the rest. I can't pull it far enough out to clear the one stud.

Am I missing something? I decided to stop and ask for some advice because I was reaching the point of frustration where I figured I was about to yank too hard and break something.

[nando]

why not loosen the fuel rail? you probably don't have to remove it completely. it's only 3-4 10mm bolts holding it on the manifold. should give you enough wiggle room.

[NeoMishMoo]

Took of the four bolts holding the fuel rail onto the manifold.

Got enough slack to remove the manifold with fuel rail still attached. (I didnt know that the bar underneath the manifold was on a spring)

Now I still cant get the fuel rail and injectors out of the manifold. They should just pull out with gentle force or so the Bentley manual says. There is a lot of crud around them, maybe that is what is holding them in.

What can I spray to loosen them up? Engine Starting Fluid?

[nando]

is this an early or late car? if it had diving boards, you have to unclip each plug on the harness. if it had plastic bumpers, you should be able to just pull the harness off off. there is a metal clip under the fuel rail that attaches to each injector. you can pry those off with a screwdriver.

[NeoMishMoo]

1987 eta with diving boards and M20B27 engine.

Yeah I took the clips off but the injectors will not come off the rail or come out of the manifold.

[Dirtbleed]

Here is the manifold with injectors cleaned for reassembly

[Dirtbleed]

fuel rail

[Dirtbleed]

The Oil tube is spring loaded. You're gonna wanna compress the spring with zip ties, set the oil tube in place, then reinstall the manifold, then cut the zip ties and it will pop in place.

[slo325i]

I remember during my 2.7i swap, my eta injectors were stuck on the manifold like crazy.... i had to REALLY pull hard on them to come off. I'd be generous with wd 40 and use some muscle

[NeoMishMoo]

Umm thanks dirtbleed for those pictures. This is how I want mine to look when I'm done, but for now this is what I'm dealing with.


Very dirty and not ready to go at all.

So you're telling me to just force them out? WD-40 Ok to spray in there? I was thinking starting fluid would eat up some of that gunk.

[Adrian_Visser]

the o-rings are stuck just use a long screwdriver as a lever to pry between the fuel rail and manifold, if you're worried about fucking up the fuel rail use a block of wood against the fuel rail, and yes you may need to use some force

[Dirtbleed]

just dry o-rings. wd40 em up and pull them out. worst case you get new o-rings. probably need them anyway.

[NeoMishMoo]

Update: Got the fuel rail out and the injectors out. Just took some muscle, I was just worried because bentley said "gentle force."