I hope that you don't have the original clips sans worm drives... I don't think it is possible to remove them without first removing the manifold - or at least, I was not able to do it...Perhaps you could achieve it easily enough if you just cut the rubber tubes.. but where would you get new ones!? Its much easier ones you reinstall the manifold with clips specifically put in place to ensure easy removal. If you have one of the semi-flexible drivers its quite easy..Even so - I could probably have the engine out before I could remove the manifold out the top..