What would be the best way to remove the stock exhaust manifold on a ss/sc. Is it best to remove it from the top or bottom and does it just unbolt or do you have to remove any studs?

 

take it out from the top, 3 bolts holding it on the downpipe. and 10 up top

 

thats what I was thinking but figured I would check here.

 

I would use an air racket to take off the header bolts. If you don't you will probably end up backing the studs out of the block as well. Not totally needed but nice to have.

 

You didn't say what year your Cobalt is. The three nuts holding the downpipe to the manifold are gonna be HARDER the older the Cobalt is -- loosen them first before the 10 nuts holding the manifold to the head. If you can jack the car up (safely) and have some long extensions (1/2" ratchet set up) you may find it easier to loosen them that way. If you have the strength of a gorilla you might not have a problem

 

the three bolts holding the down pipe all snapped on my exhaust.

 

I removed the cat pipe first, it makes it easier to get to the bolts from under the car.

Hit the bolts with some WD40 and let them soak if they are stuck.

 

yah getting the bolts loose where the manifold and DP meet were hard as hell to loosen. I loosened those bolts first so the DP and manifold were seperate, then i took the 10 bolts off the manifold, then disconnected the resonator and DP underneath the car.