Mondial exhaust manifold cracked

I'm having difficulties with removing the rear exhaust manifold from my '86 euro spec Mondial 3.2. How is it supposed to come off? I found some discussion about removing the rear manifold from 3.0qv (remove fuel distributor and remove from top). However it looks like I have a bar to which heat shield between exhaust manifold and trunk bolts to. When I try to lower the manifold, it won't go past differential.

Any tips and tricks? I have two cracks that need repair welding, and was planning to get it done before parking the car for winter. That would be within 2-3 weeks from now.

Help would be appreciated.

Exhaust manifold and heat shield are loose on the photos. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I removed and refitted the rear manifold on my qv from below. Somehow, it just passed but the headshields need to be loosened.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148490026/

 

Thank you afterburner! Your project thread is a gift that keeps on giving for all Mondial owners around the world!

Somehow I managed to wiggle the heat shield off while exhaust manifold being loose. For me the final trick was to first get the collector past parking brake cable. After that I got the exhaust manifold off.

Another question for experts. Was a support between primaries implemented at some point of Mondial production? I have such supports on rear bank, but not on the front bank. I guess it reduces the stress/vibration on the welds to manifold flange, but on the other hand it is a new weak spot. I think that the cracks I have might have started on the weld of the support and then proceeded to the primaries base material.


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Could also be a prior "repair" (that has now failed in another area). I don't see any such reinforcement plates on today's stock euro Mondial 3.2 manifolds:

https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/part/ferrari/118156

but maybe MCP's photos aren't showing the right place(s), and I note that they've deleted the exhaust sampling ports so that's another difference (and MCP parts look more like 400 series stainless steel).

 

This is also what my welder said, as the reinforcement plates were clearly welded on afterwards. I didn't recognize this, but then again I'm not a professional welder. The reinforcement plates were good craftmanship, but welded on a place where they should not be to begin with. It is very likely that the manifold would not have cracked on those places if it wasn't for the reinforcement. Therefore the plates were removed, manifold filled with argon, and cracks TIG welded. Looks quite good both in and out.
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Repaired exhaust manifold is now back on the engine, and waiting for rest of the exhaust parts to be installed back on.

Thanks for the help and wisdom!