valve adjust, remove heat exchanger

[MichaelUD]

1976 911S Targa, 49,654 miles. Needs valve adjust at 50K.
I have the time.
Should I remove heat exchanger/muffler to make valve adjust easier?
Will removing heat exchnanger/muffler create more problems?
Advise sought on best approach to adjust valves.
Thanks.

[boyt911sc]

If you have a catalytic converter, removing it would give you additional room for cylinders 1-2-3. No need to remove the heat exchangers because you have ample room to do the valve adjustment with them in place.

Tony

[rwest]

You should have no problems getting access on a '76 with heat exchangers installed and trying to remove them could bring a headache in the form of broken exhaust studs.

[michael lang]

I would think you will have less working room if your car's equipped with an a/c compressor on the 4-5-6 side than trying to maneuver your way around a catalytic converter on the exhaust side.

[Targalid]

No Cat on a 76. If you have the smog pump, that gets in the way. Heat exchangers/muffler are not in the way unless you have a non-stock set up.

[theiceman]

removing nuts/ studs for heat exchangers is a bigger project in itself than valve adjust by a long shot. I takes thought , careful approach and research , not something you want to whip through to get to something else.

[fanaudical]

Maybe post a couple pics for guidance? (Who knows if you still have stock exhaust...)

I have a '75 with SSI's and find plenty of room to adjust the valves. I usually do this in conjunction with an oil change (makes things a bit less messy) and put one side of the car up on ramps at a time while doing that side. Couple of rags over the heat exchangers to keep the oil off helps a bit.

As others have said, the removing exhaust nuts/studs can be a major pain as those are usually corroded/heat-fused in place.