Hi everyone, I have diligently been working through the engine and seem to have stopped most if not all fluid leaks. After being in the car my cloths still smell like that "beautiful old car smell" I was considering removing the exhaust manifold and changing the gasket. Is this advisable and relatively easy (assuming bolts are not seized" or could I be opening a can of worms. Thx
1979 xj6L series

 

There's always the potential for broken fasteners but, FWIW, I've taken exhaust manifolds off several XJ6s and never had any broken studs. I'd say that the odds are in your favor.

Cheers
DD

 

Thx Doug. Is it a worthwhile maintenance item in your opinion,? Or is it unlikely to have a leak from there

 

Well, that was a surprise!

I read the thread title and thought someone was waxing poetic about the beautiful smell of leather, wool and walnut veneer, which Nix's personal physician Jay has commented on more than once.

No, merely a mundane exhaust manifold.

Sigh.........
(';')

 

Yeah, me too. Leaking exhaust manifold to head leaks are better known for noise than smell.


If there are "odors" there, it is more likely oil dripping on it. Oily odors have been a part of my life for decades....


Carl

 

I thought the same, I think i have eradicated the old car smell in mine however with the lack of an interior for over a year now.

 

I just tell my wife it is raw fuel because it's flooding or oil burning when it drips on the exhaust....please tell me I'm wrong. I have been known to make the odd bad call. 000, being the worst one.


Ha, been a while guys. I just had to slip in one fire joke.

 

Clarke:


I get it. Something not easily forgotten.


Carl

 

I've noticed that older non fuel injected cars seem to have that faint gasoline smell. The injected system is completely sealed while the carbs and fuel tank are vented to the atmosphere. Also the exhaust of a non catalytic converter car usually smells of a richer mixture.The smell of burning oil is another unwanted smell. My '94 Cadillac Seville which was only about seven years old when the main seals started a steady minor oil leak. The cost was prohibitive to fix it, so I learned to live with the smell. My daughter always complained about it. The somewhat funky smell of an old car interior is a bit of a guilty pleasure, unless there is a moldy smell. My XJ6 and XJS smell pretty good to me, but the Mark VII is pretty funky!

 

When Nix came to live with us, the garage smelled like a *Proper* garage!
That wonderful smell of gas venting from a hot carburetor with slight undertones of warm oil and hot tires; it reached deep into my childhood memories and said, "hello, it's been a long time. I'm glad to be back."

Now that I think about it, that's probably one of the reasons I like the car so much; Nose-talgia.
(';')

 

Hopefully the nuts will be the brass ones, in which case little risk of stud snappage, but still soak the nuts in plus gas (not wd-40) or something similar for a day or two before hand.
Take the nuts off by doing a backwards and forwards movement for at least the first few turns. If the nut is stuck it's better to split/cut the nut off the stud rather than risk a snapped stud.
A hex socket is always preferable rather than the 12 point ones.


"nose-talgia!" nice one!!

 

I've had that rich mixture/gasoline smell in the cabin of my '84 XJ6 for the 5ish years that I've owned it. On my list of to do items is to remove the charcoal canister and finding a way to refresh it. Maybe this is an option for yours as well.

 

Two:


One of the "easies".


1. The cannisters are a GM product. The one that came with the GM swap package for my lump is almost exactly like the one that serves in my 83!


2 IF FF
e a xr r xuxctr csxcuct

 

2. Sorry, errant fingers/ If the charcoal particles are solidified and no longer effective, renewal is an option.


3. Cut the canister open. Remove the chunk. Fresh charcoal is available in fish aquirium (sp) supply shops. Fill, tape shut and those vapors gone .


Carl