Confused on Replacing Upper/Lower Intake Gaskets

[Brandon96]

I'm using Kaiser's Guide and a Haynes manual to replace the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets as well as the injector O-rings on my '96 OHV. I've got the Vin X engine and I'm a little confused on what kit to get from Fel-Pro due to what type (paper gasket or neo.. pren?) or a possible cross reference from another year Ex. Can anyone tell me which one I need?

Also, I went out and poked around a bit tonight to get familiar with what I need and how to get to the gaskets themselves. I feel very comfortable about getting to and replacing the upper, but once I get there I'm a little confused on where the Lower Gaskets are or how to get to them with the upper intake off. Can someone fill me in on a brief summary of what to do to get to them, I'm sure I can figure it out, I just want to know a little about what I'm doing.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jim Jermain]

I too am looking at replacing my lower intake gasket. I've done the upper and it's not too bad. The trickiest part I found was disconnecting the upper intake from the medal EGR tube. It's held on by an o-ring but it is a little tricky to pull the upper intake away from the tube. Once you get the upper intake off you'll need to remove the rocker covers in order to remove the lower intake. You'll also need to disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail. If you are going to change the injector o-rings, you'll need to remove the studs and then wiggle the fuel rail and injectors free from the lower intake. Once the upper intake and fuel rail is off you have access to every bolt on the lower intake.

Good luck. I hope it goes well. Drop me a note and let me know if there are any tips you can offer. As for the gaskets, I did the upper separate from the lower so I am going to purchase the lower intake and rocker cover gaskets separately. However I think Felpro makes a complete set with the upper, fuel rail, lower intake, and rocker cover gaskets. I don't think it includes the o-rings for the injectors.

Jim

 

[Brandon96]

Thanks Jim!

ALRIGHT, one more question. Can a failing or cracked Intake Gasket... Whistle? I know it sounds absurd but I'm getting a sound that is darn close to a singing bird originating from what seems to be the upper intake. It increases audibly as the RPMs increase.. but not frequency. I checked / cleaned the IAC valve, that didn't work. I used to get p0171 and p0174 codes once the engine reached about 130-150 degrees, hasn't done it in a while.. but now this.

 

[96eb96]

Thanks Jim!

ALRIGHT, one more question. Can a failing or cracked Intake Gasket... Whistle? I know it sounds absurd but I'm getting a sound that is darn close to a singing bird .

That could be a bad cam synchronizer assembly.

 

[Buddinator]

I have begun the task of changing the upper intake and valve cover gaskets. I have the upper intake off and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and change the lower intake gasket just because I'm almost there. So I'm wondering if it's much more work to go ahead and do the lower as well or if I should just leave it. Also, this truck is crazy hard on gas. Do you think it's because of the vacuum leak?

 

[Brandon96]

Found out what it was.. Alternator bearing.. who coulda thunk it?

I have begun the task of changing the upper intake and valve cover gaskets. I have the upper intake off and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and change the lower intake gasket just because I'm almost there. So I'm wondering if it's much more work to go ahead and do the lower as well or if I should just leave it. Also, this truck is crazy hard on gas. Do you think it's because of the vacuum leak?

My mileage dropped 2 MPGs about the time I discovered my leak. I was told with a leak as severe as mine (2-3mm gap in the gasket above Cyl 6) I lost some MPGs.