Grr, stupid turbo elbow!

[Matt300ZXT]

Why does Nissan have to put so much shit in the way that makes it dang near impossible to get to that 1 last bolt? I'm trying to remove the turbo outlet from my CA18 S13 so I can put on my new Megan parts that should be here in a few days. I got the other 4 off rather easily but that last one by the bellhousing is going to be a royal pain in the ass!

Anyone done this before and got any tips/tricks for me?

[opponheimer]

Yeah, the only tool I've been able to use is a nice strong, thin, small, 13-mm open ended wrench. Thats all I use for that specific bolt.. And you have to be under the car!

[Matt300ZXT]

Damn, this is going to take up most of my day tomorrow, I can feel it haha

I figured I'd have to get under it, but it's dark out now and I want to shower up and go take the ladies out ;) Thanks for the tip Opponheimer.

[brndck]

also make sure to spray it down with some pb blaster or some sort of penetrating oil. makes it way easier.

[Slidin240Wayz]

1/4 inch 18 inch extension + swivel head + socket.

[Matt300ZXT]

Yeah I tried a long extension and swivel socket, but that was from the top and no one was there to hold the light for me so it didn't work out. Maybe tomorrow when I'm under it I can get it broken loose with the massive pile of tools I've got.

[g6civcx]

Be careful so you don't strip the bolts. The best way to swap out the turbo elbow is to drop the entire manifold and turbo. There's no easy way to get at that last bolt.

[rps13drift]

Be careful so you don't strip the bolts. The best way to swap out the turbo elbow is to drop the entire manifold and turbo. There's no easy way to get at that last bolt.

Word! you think its going to be faster and easier just taking off the elbow but in in all actualality its far easier to just take the manifold/turbo/ and everything else of together! live and learn!

[Matt300ZXT]

There's no way in hell I'm pulling the manifold. I did that once with the p/o before I bought the car. I'm not undoing all those oil and water lines again. I'll get up under there with a bunch of sockets and swivels and extensions :D

[g6civcx]

Good luck. You have been warned.

[chibo]

Be careful. If you have issues putting the elbow back in you will be having a long night.

Brand new Evo 9 with 20 miles on it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/chibo/tap-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/chibo/tap-1.jpg

One long ass night because of trying shortcuts and not having the right tools.

[Matt300ZXT]

Wow that was easier than I thought. Removed the driver side front wheel after I had it jacked up some and had a direct shot at it with an open ended wrench. It didn't even take me 2 minutes after I had it jacked up and started working at it to have it off, then a couple more minutes to put the wheel back on, lower it, and remove the o2 housing. I sure hope the new one goes on as easy as this one came off :)

[opponheimer]

Wow that was easier than I thought. Removed the driver side front wheel after I had it jacked up some and had a direct shot at it with an open ended wrench. It didn't even take me 2 minutes after I had it jacked up and started working at it to have it off, then a couple more minutes to put the wheel back on, lower it, and remove the o2 housing. I sure hope the new one goes on as easy as this one came off :)


Told ya so :) you don't need pb blaster, ratchet, any of that shit, just an open ended wrench. Gj

For the new one, attach the o2 sensor to the elbow, drop your o2 sensor wire/plug down to where your downpipe is, plug it in to your o2 sensor on the elbow, then get back above the engine and fish the o2 housing up, and put it in place. Don't forget the gasket either. When its in place, put the top two bolts, on just enough thread for it to hang there, then do the lower nuts first, otherwise I don't think you'll have enough space to put the mid-lower nut on. Also tighten the top and bottom nuts/bolts consistently.

[sxe]

use a crow's foot, small 13mm, i use it, its very simple...

[SHIFT_*grind*]

When you put the bolts back on, do yourself a favor and USE ANTI-SEIZE. Breaking a stud off in the turbo and paying someone $40 to drill it out, well, that sucks. Trust me.

[Matt300ZXT]

Oh yeah, I'm going to anti seize everything. Especially on the o2 sensor I'm going to have to put in. I tried taking the old one out of the CA18 elbow I removed. PB Blaster, torch, PB Blaster, torch, rinse and repeat, and that thing ain't moving an inch. Not that I was going to reuse the old one, just wanted to remove it and sell the old housing ready to go.