Hi guys - can you advise me on something? I started about 4:15 a.m. pulling the car apart. Timing belt components - no prob. Intake - no prob. Exhaust manifold to head nuts - no problem.

At this point, the exhaust manifold wouldn't move much. At least not enough to clear the manifold studs. so I could remove the head. At this point should I go ahead and remove the manifold studs? Or start unbolting everything in the exhaust area until I can slide the manifold off the studs?

I've included a photo of where I'm at now. (1) I removed these studs - but spent the better part of 60 minutes cutting off this nut (where the #1 is). Although this flange is free, the exhaust pipe is still pretty much bolted down (near the cat - I ran out of time). Should I not waste my time here and remove the bolts at (2) ???

These don't look like fun, especially if I break/round a bolt.

I'd appreciate if you guys could look at my photo and tell me the best course of action I should take to get this exhaust manifold free. I don't know if I should start unbolting the hard lines to the turbo or what...

(the photo is pretty detailed - so keep clicking the image until it gets full size - and look in the 'volvo' folder) Thanks guys!!!

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/cweidner@flash.net

(to the largest image - a long URL)
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/cweidner@flash.net/vwp?.dir=/volvo+repair&.dnm=volvo.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t