im trying to get the stock exhaust manifold off of the car and i ran into a problem...how the **** do you get to the top bolts of the exhaust manifold? there is some valve assembly looking thing right above the exhaust manifold, can you remove that, for good or what? what is it? or does someone know an easier way of getting the stock header off????

 

that valve assembly looking thing is your six port system..yes you can remove it but you would have to wire those open for them to work properly..they open at a certain rpm, giving you more air flow at top end. its not hard to take off the stock mani. its just four nut's and lock washer's. two at the top and two at the bottom..

and if your installing a header..be prepaired to get some exhaust modding done..as the header wont bolt up to the factory system. unless of course the header was custom made to work.

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well i have the rb presilencer also....and i knew what the 5th and 6th ports did, they will still open, the presilencer came with the tube n ****...those valves for the 5th and 6th ports are just so in the way, i was wondering if anyone had any advice for getting the header bolts off with them still on there...thanks tho man

 

You should remove the actuators for your ports it's not too hard to get them back on. Then you can use an extension and deep well socket to get at the manifold from the top.

 

if you remove the actuators then you will need gaskets to replace the old one's. plus you will have to remove those annoying c-clips off the port rod's and if you lose one of those your effed..your choice tho..i would just get a mirror and use that as a guide. and try not to disturb anything else. its fairly simple, as ive done it before.

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If you carefully take off the actuators,then you can use a dab of RTV to put them back on.If not Mazda charges about 5 bucks for gaskets.
the Actuators will just slip off,..NO C Clip on the Pin that the actuator slips on to.( My car didn't..s4 na)
Once the actuators are off you have a good clear shot at the Upper manifold bolts.But remember,they have been there for a long time..Use some penetrating spray If possible..(the studs are metric,if you bust one.).

 

odd..my car had c-clip's..must have been getto rigged.

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so after i get the new header back on, can i delete the air control valve, since i wont have any cats, and does that mena i can delete the air pump?