Triumph Repair: 75 spitfire exhaust manifold / header removal, british cars, question thanks

Question
QUESTION: So I discovered the spitfire I just bought has a very big crack in the header. I already planned on putting in a new header anyways and had one ordered before hand. So I began to take apart the exhaust system only to discover two large problems. One was one of the mounting screws had been previously cut so I have to find a way to remove that. The bigger issue and the one I wanted to ask you is that I cant seem to find a way to remove the stock header. Everything is disconnected. There is nothing connected to the original header however there isnt any way that I have found to pull it out or slip it through the bottom. Do I need to remove the engine to remove the header? I hope not as I dont have the resources to do that myself. After trying to research header removal and finding nothing on the subject I can only think that it really should be an easy thing to do, yet for me it hasnt been easy. Am I just missing something simple?

Thanks Howard.

ANSWER: Hi Luis,
If you have removed the bolts holding the intake to the exhaust and removed the intake manifold and the nuts holding the exhaust manifold to the head and any (EGR pipe if it has one) and remove the exhaust pipe from the header, it should be easy to pry away from the head and lift out the top.
The spitfire has more room than most British cars.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply. I removed the intake manifold. I removed all parts of the exhaust from the header/exhaust manifold. It moves freely and has clearance from the ground. However it is just a bit too wide to lift through the gap between the engine and the frame. I have tried different angles but nothing has worked so far. I am not sure if this is the original header. The header is a 4-1 design with the collector welded on. I live in California and bought the car here so I assume it is a california version which I know to have some special parts for emissions reasons. I wonder if the header was of a different design? I feel like I must be missing something but there really isnt anything I think I do to pull it out.

Answer
That is not stock as the original was cast iron and the pipe unbolted from the manifold so that the frame was not in the way. An aftermarket manifold that is welded to the lower pipes may need the motor mounts loosened and an engine hoist used to move the engine a little.
Howard