V6 exhaust manifold gasket, help

[DriveATransAm]

is it easier to get the rear exhaust manifold gasket off from the top or the bottom? because it is on studs im guessing that i need to unbolt more of the exhaust somewhere down the line so it comes off easier?

this project is a pita.

[Toysrme]

the y-pipe comes off from the bottom.
the manifold requires both because of the EGR port & top nuts.




if your actualy manifold gasket is leaking, i'd begin to bet the manifold has cracked. the manifold gasket is multi-layer steel. it has no excuse to leak if it's under the correct tension.

[DriveATransAm]

well i think i have all the EGR stuff off because the intake manifold is not on the car right now just the tube sticking up.

as far as the exhaust manifold not leaking, someone said its happened to them before. its a 94 with 211K miles on it. you could faintly hear a leak somewhere only when you trompped on the gas hard, with the windows down. then one day it just went and sounded like a big exhaust leak. you can hear it mostly at idle....once cruising on the expressway its almost impossible to hear (till you give it some gas to pass) im also almost certain its coming from the engine bay because a)i can smell it in the cabin pretty bad at stop lights, b)i couldnt find the leak from the y pipe back and sounds like its coming from near the engine as well. did they use mls for the original ones? i have so many nuts and bolts all over the place now im not sure this car is ever going to run again