How to turn two hours into six...

[F16HTON]

Decided to replace my cracked ATP exhaust manifold yesterday, what should have taken two hours turned into a six friggen hour job.

Friggen ARP bolt that holds the turbo to the exhaust manifold bound up and the only way to get it out was to break it (used PB blaster, heat and cold).

So this meant that I had to remove the whole turbo to extract ther broken stud.

Did not help that it was well over 100 degree either...in the end however, car is all back togheter and running perfectly.

[A4 TSCHUSS]

I ended up snapping a head stud both times I took the mani off the head to replace due to a crack. They were easy to unscrew from the head though with a pair of stud pliers so i got lucky, then less than $1 for a new stud from Napa and I was good to go.

[Papachristou]

did you have the old ATP design? what did you replace it with?

[A4 TSCHUSS]

I had the old design then it got replaced with another old design and I just took it off the last time and am getting a new design mani whichi will sell with my gtrs kit when it finally comes. Only been waiting 3 weeks on ATP as of now, but hey what is new with them.

Pretty sure Greg had the old design as well.

[Pr0n]

That sounds like something that would've taken me about a week.

Suggested Podi install time according to a4mods: 1 hour (no experience necessary)
My Podi install time: 4 days until *working* completion

[mike-2ptzero]

Greg did you mean ARP bolt? We need to get that setup off your car soon and throw a BAT on.

[infernocl]

since my first manifold job, i keep a steady supply of nickel anti seize for every bolt i install.

[F16HTON]

Warranty replacement from ATP...

[Audi Skate Snow]

got to hate when something you know takes little time, and something stupid like that happens to make it take 5 times as long.

comes with wrenching though.

[Redgoat]

yeah. Thats a horrible feeling.. but a greater feeling of relief when you get it done

[102487thedude]

the bolts on my setup brake every time i touch them. you problem sounds all to similar with haveing to get the stud out.

on the good side aleast it is fixed and working.

[F16HTON]

I can fix anything...

105 degrees is way to hot to work on a car though

[Redgoat]

agreed! Sucks when your cooked.. and then you start touching hot parts of cars.

[dougyfresh]

105 degrees is way to hot to work on a car though

Amen to that. It was 75-80degF here yesterday but 99% humidity and I was dying just swapping out a fuel pump. My shirt was completely soaked through after a few minutes.

At least you got it all back together and working. Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as anticipated. However, its all about the problem is handled to overcome the issues at hand. Great job!

[bananas]

Thanks for the tip, Greg, but I already know how to turn 2 hours of work into 6

[CO AVANT]

I've been bleeding my brakes,mc,abs,clutch salve for 8hrs, think my MC is done. I know how you feel...

[martini]

That sounds like something that would've taken me about a week.

Suggested Podi install time according to a4mods: 1 hour (no experience necessary)
My Podi install time: 4 days until *working* completion

good to know... was it an electronic or normal analog gauge? I will update the time (not to 4 days, but to more time)

i can get one in very quickly, but I've had the car apart so many times I know what tools to grab and how to dis-assemble everything

[mike-2ptzero]

agreed! Sucks when your cooked.. and then you start touching hot parts of cars.

What is even worse is that plus being pressed for time trying to get something fixed while at the track so you can make another run or just get the car home.