So, I'm progressing fairly well on the Cam Cover/Half Moon work. But, as expected, mission creep has set in and I've decided to embrace the horror and move on to the water rails. My question is, has anyone tried the short cut to removing the rails? The short cut being grabbing it with a pair of vice grips and tapping it backwards then pulling it out. Or, is it more common to remove the thermostat housing and get at it that way? I've got Jag parts all over the garage and picnic table and would really like to do something that doesn't require more unbolting/picture taking/note making/storage space finding.
Thanks

 

I believe you are best advised to unbolt the water manifolds. Be careful as the bolts can, apparently, snap off. When I did mine on my then 27 year old car they came out with no trouble at all though. New seals for each end are still available, and much better gaskets too than the originals.

Greg

 

i wouldnt be able to stomach the grooves left over on the pipe afterwords. Pliers are very rarely the right tool. They work in many many areas, but they are rarely the "right tool"

id take 'em off

 

Unbolt the manifolds. How do you expect to reinstall the coolant pipes with the coolant manifolds still bolted to the heads?
By the way, chances are good that the ends of your coolant pipes are rusting and developing pinholes. if you're going to have the pipes off anyways, you should replace them with something that wont rust out on you. I polished and clear coated some schedule 40 copper, which I think makes the motor look more like the classic motors of the 20s and 30s. Another good material is stainless steel.

 

i believe there is enough room to slide on side of the pipe inside the housing so far that you can then replace the other sides gasket and vice versa

 

Sorry guys, I meant to reply earlier with my thanks for your input, but I got called out on the road and this is the first chance I've had.

Normally when I go through "The Book" and look for techniques or ideas, I pretty much try to follow what's in there. But when I read about using Vice Grips and a Hammer to remove the rails (page 209), well...... that didn't seem to fit in with the "take your time, do it once and do it right" philosophy. However, I must admit, it does seem tempting to try a short cut. Especially since, as I said earlier, I've got Jag parts all over the garage (my wife has started calling it "Kitty Litter") and I just want to get this done! But no, I'll resist. Partially because I have been considering using copper pipes and a pair of grips on those will just ruin the effect.

I'll be traveling 16 days in June. Hopefully, I can have the car back on the road by the end of the month!