how did u guys remove the stock exhaust manifold? there is one nut behind a coolant line fitting and i cantr move it out of the way to undo the screw. should i flush the coolant and remove that line? tia.

You should take the nut off of the front side then the line, the line is sandwiched between a nut and a bolt, just pulls away from the manifold,(it is a bitch to do with hot water in it), then unscrew the bolt underneath the line :)