Manifold Clamp - 07 Yukon 5.3 - HELP!

[Rocket Man]

R

I just bought my 07 Yukon Denali, and I'm trying to tackle the driver side rear bracket. I have disconnected the front drive shaft, remove the O2 sensor, and unbolted the trans from the rear support mount and lifted it slightly hoping it would pitch the engine forward and give more a little more room. I think I could get the bracket installed with the new bolts in ok, but I'm stuck at the point of removing the grounding strap on the rear of the head. There is not enough remove to get a socket and ratchet on it. There was barely enough room to slip a socket on the bolt head just to size it up. No combo of swivel heads is going to be cause there just isn't the room. Any ideas.

I'm thinking my only option left is to pickup a set of crow foot wrenches.

Ratcheting wrench?

 

[Glisella]

I just bought my 07 Yukon Denali, and I'm trying to tackle the driver side rear bracket. I have disconnected the front drive shaft, remove the O2 sensor, and unbolted the trans from the rear support mount and lifted it slightly hoping it would pitch the engine forward and give more a little more room. I think I could get the bracket installed with the new bolts in ok, but I'm stuck at the point of removing the grounding strap on the rear of the head. There is not enough remove to get a socket and ratchet on it. There was barely enough room to slip a socket on the bolt head just to size it up. No combo of swivel heads is going to be cause there just isn't the room. Any ideas.

I'm thinking my only option left is to pickup a set of crow foot wrenches.

Check out my post on page 2 of this thread. Get a 15mm flex head ratcheting wrench. Worked for me.

 

[nadthomas]

Ah, that should get the job done quick and simple. You know, I read that post last night before making my own post, but I must have been too tired to process it correctly. I also realize this morning that I have a set of the Craftsman Max Access sockets(pass-through type sockets) that would probably work as well since the ratchet slips around the socket instead of on the end. I have been wanting to buy a set of ratcheting wrenches for a while now, this seems like a good enough excuse. THANKS!

 

[nadthomas]

Got the bolt out for grounding wire last night, initially I was still having no luck with all my new tools. The flexhead ratcheting wrench, crowsfoot, or pass-through socket/wrench. The wire clamp for the grounding strap is so fat that it was getting in the way of getting a tool on the bolt head at a good angle, and then I was still struggling to get leverage without having the tool slip off.

Then I discovered the real trick, lay across the front core support of the truck like you are some bikini model at a photo shoot showing off you backside. This allowed me to easily get my left hand down the back side of the head from the top and my right hand around the backside past the exhaust manifold. It was actually almost comfortable laying and working like this, and I'm not a small guy. It puts your hands in a much better position for working in this area. The pass-through socket/wrench ended up being the best tool to break loose the bolt to the grounding strap. Once I had the bolt out, I was able to get the bracket on and both bolts in from the top in less the 10 minutes. It was easy. The flexhead ratcheting wrenches were really nice for tightening the bracket down.

Bad news for me though, is that it did not fix my exhaust leak. Its reduced slightly, but not fixed. The back 2 bolts are snapped on my exhaust manifold, so I'm going to order the middle bracket from Kral, and hopefully that will help. Although I don't have a lot of hope since my gasket is probably damaged since the previous owner left it like this for almost a year.

 

[93blkongreenpro]

Got the bolt out for grounding wire last night, initially I was still having no luck with all my new tools. The flexhead ratcheting wrench, crowsfoot, or pass-through socket/wrench. The wire clamp for the grounding strap is so fat that it was getting in the way of getting a tool on the bolt head at a good angle, and then I was still struggling to get leverage without having the tool slip off.

Then I discovered the real trick, lay across the front core support of the truck like you are some bikini model at a photo shoot showing off you backside. This allowed me to easily get my left hand down the back side of the head from the top and my right hand around the backside past the exhaust manifold. It was actually almost comfortable laying and working like this, and I'm not a small guy. It puts your hands in a much better position for working in this area. The pass-through socket/wrench ended up being the best tool to break loose the bolt to the grounding strap. Once I had the bolt out, I was able to get the bracket on and both bolts in from the top in less the 10 minutes. It was easy. The flexhead ratcheting wrenches were really nice for tightening the bracket down.

Bad news for me though, is that it did not fix my exhaust leak. Its reduced slightly, but not fixed. The back 2 bolts are snapped on my exhaust manifold, so I'm going to order the middle bracket from Kral, and hopefully that will help. Although I don't have a lot of hope since my gasket is probably damaged since the previous owner left it like this for almost a year.

10 minutes?!? Took me an 1 just on that 1 top bolt. That lower bolt wasn't bad. Maybe 20 minutes.

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[nadthomas]

That was after spending about 3.5 hours getting the bolt for the grounding strap off. I also still had the back of the transmission lifted to pitch the engine forward. According to the instructions for Kral that should have gained me about a 1/2". Seriously, laying across the core support made a night and day difference. Being able to get both my hands back there and not have my wrist and arm strained at a weird angles made a world of difference, I almost couldn't believe it myself.

Regardless of how effective the clamps are, I still plan to "repair it right way" at some point. So, I'll make a video showing the removal of the clamp.

 

[KATfishing]

That was after spending about 3.5 hours getting the bolt for the grounding strap off. I also still had the back of the transmission lifted to pitch the engine forward. According to the instructions for Kral that should have gained me about a 1/2". Seriously, laying across the core support made a night and day difference. Being able to get both my hands back there and not have my wrist and arm strained at a weird angles made a world of difference, I almost couldn't believe it myself.

Regardless of how effective the clamps are, I still plan to "repair it right way" at some point. So, I'll make a video showing the removal of the clamp.

Would love to see your video. Please let us know how it turned out and what it took to get it right.

 

[bottomline2000]

Just ordered the kral single clamp. I like the idea of supporting the little guy especially if it was their idea. I managed to strip a header bolt when i knew i should have just chased the threads. It seems to be a very slight leak as it comes and goes so I'm confident this clamp will work permanently...great idea..

 

[93blkongreenpro]

Just ordered the kral single clamp. I like the idea of supporting the little guy especially if it was their idea. I managed to strip a header bolt when i knew i should have just chased the threads. It seems to be a very slight leak as it comes and goes so I'm confident this clamp will work permanently...great idea..

Blue loctite the bolt. Mine backed out

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[bottomline2000]

Ordered Superbowl Sunday, got the part and installed in no time today. Antiseize on the bolt going into the head..blue locktite on the pinchbolt...works great and even keeps my spark plug wire off the header. Highly recommend Kral for this fix.

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