Leaking intake on 86'

[Mart]

Has anybody here done their intake, and how big a job is it, anything special or tricky that might be of use here.

Mart

 

[Vette_Newb]

It's not a huge job (quite easy compared to alot of GM vehicles) but it is time consuming. Doing it in the garage, you would probably need 4-5 hours and I believe on the 86 you need to remove the A/C compressor as well as the air pump and alternator. All those wires and plastic vacuum lines are 18 years old and will be brittle, so handle them carefully. Get something to put the bolts in order (since there are about 20 different sizes lol). Mark the plug wires as you take them off and scribe the distributor so you can stab it back exactly how it was. Use permatex in place of the rear gasket and your chances of success are much higher. Be sure you follow the procedure (in the shop manual of your choice) for releasing the fuel pressure and bleeding it on reinstall. Always disconnect the battery and don't smoke while your standing over the engine.

Good luck, and if you don't have a service manual get one.

 

[rrubel]

AC compressor can stay on (I just removed the intake on my 86). Gasket sets don't even seem to come with the rear gasket; it's expected that you use Permatex. Same with the front of the intake. Also, make sure you get ALL the old Permatex from around the back. It'll leak again otherwise. I used a gasket removal spray.

Use a small pry bar to remove the fuel rails, GENTLY. If you've got the time, now's a good chance to get them cleaned and re-ringed...

You can use a larger pry bar between the cast-in lug on the back of the block and the manifold itself to pry it off. It'll stick...

It's also easier to loosen as many of the runner bolts as you can before trying to remove the plenum; there are plastic pins holding the plenum->runner gaskets in place and loosening the bottom of the runners lets them move enough to ease the gaskets out. I also tapped with a rubber mallet to loosen the plenum. Also, some of the runner bolts are loosened from the OPPOSITE side of the engine.

And please, PLEASE triple-check that you got all the manifold bolts out before trying to pry it off. A couple are somewhat hidden and a new manifold is expensive... though also a good excuse to get a performance one .

If you've got a late 86, careful not to scrape gouges in the aluminum heads when cleaning gasket off the block... and the runners WILL dent if you drop them...

Oh, and I found the best thing to use for storing bolts is an egg carton. Cheap, oil-proof, and compartmented.

Good luck... it's not as hard as I make it out to be.
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

Thanks guys I am not totally useless with tools infact pretty handy, I just have never done an intake and am just nervous about it.

Where to start? how to finish, first and last things to do.

Speaking of vacumm lines are there replacement plastic lines available?
I have heard of there being a legth of vaumm tube you heat and bend to original specs but I cannot find it.

Thanks
Mart

 

[drags1998]

Hi Mart, Just did my 90, Its really not that bad, Everyone has given great advice!!!! The only thing I would do, that no one recommended,is to go to your local chevy dealer and pick up a tube of G.M.(high strength bonding RTV) I used permatex 2 years ago,ENOUGH SAID. MAKE SURE TO SUPER CLEAN INTAKE & TOP OF THE BLOCK!!!! Good Luck!!!!!!

 

[rrubel]

You can buy lengths of flexible vacuum line that fit perfectly; I haven't had to heat them or anything because they tend to stay in the way I put them on.

BTW - if you can, when buying the RTV for the manifold, get the stuff in a caulk tube and apply it with a caulk gun. That way it's MUCH easier to lay a good unbroken bead of equal width.

[RICHR]

 

[oldace84]

Sorry, wish I could help you.

tony

 

[Mart]

Does anyone have a list of gaskets or anything else I will need that is not mentioned in any manuals.

I think I am ready to go but you never know.

Mart

 

[rrubel]

Heh. Don't know what IS mentioned in the manuals, so I don't know what ISN'T, but I think you need the following:

- Intake manifold gasket set (get Felpro, 1205 I think is the #). Contains 2 pieces
- Intake runner gasket set (get GM). Contains 4 pieces (or two diff. sets)
- throttle body gasket (one piece)

I think that's it.
[RICHR]

 

[tnovot]

To those of you who might be wondering why a person would write in to say he has nothing to add, maybe I can shed some light. We typically don't do that on this forum but ---
Tony has an '84. If he belongs to the Crossfire Forum, they do things a little differently. You get points each time you add a post or reply. So many posts gets you a star by your name and so many stars gets you a change in title as a member. It is a well know fact on that forum that some members will use any excuse (or no excuse at all) to raise their status.

 

[larry bud]

Really? (Sorry, couldn't resist)...

No I will add something to this post. Just make sure you block off your intakes with some rags so you don't drop anything down there. I had quite a chain of events happen when I did mine...