I was just wondering. I attempted to do a gasket change on the valve covers and intake manifolds. I was successful with the valve cover up front. I tried to remove the intake manifold (plenum) and there were so many hoses and wires that I just gave up. I did however manage to change the gasket. I got it lose enough to swap it out. Now the problem is putting it back together.

I believe I put all hoses back. Somewhere I either broke a hose or forgot to connect it. I also was unsuccessful on putting the 2 screws that anchor down the manifold from the rear near the firewall. I have tried for several days and no luck.

Does anyone know a trick or something I can do to get these screws back on? My other question for you guru's is that I can not find the source of my air leak. I believe it is around the area where the EGR valve is but the only thing I messed with was the "EGR guide tube" the Haynes mentions for me to remove in order to take the plenum out. I did not notice any gasket there and I was able to put that back on. Maybe I did it wrong or broke something else in the process. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

you need a size 12 open end wrench i believe and you have to use the that part of the wrench that is completely closed if you are having trouble breaking it free. Connect two wrenches together so you can have some leverage. I just did this a few weeks ago for a buddy. The hoses are a pita need a ton of different pliers to pull them off

 

for the back two bolts, try getting them started by hand. IIRC I just put the socket end on the bolt so I would be able to get a grip for getting the bolt screwed in hand tight. Not having those bolts on could also be the source your air leak too.

 

Do you think it makes a difference if I put those 2 on first and then tighten up the 4 at the front of the manifold or the other way around?

 

Check your PM's.

 

I would loosen up the front ones a little bit to give the IM some play to move around. I would imagine that if you tightened the front bolts up before putting in the back ones, it could throw off how it lines up in back