Air intake plenum - how hard should it be?

[Deleted member 144409]

I believe I've taken 9 bolts and nuts off the intake plenum from my 89 3.0. It doesn't seem interested in coming off. Is that the full count? I can't tell how many there should be in the FSM. What's the best way to get past the 28 yo seal after that? Putty knife?

Thanks!

 

['round n' back again]

the plenum should have roughly that many bolts attaching it to the intake manifold.

if it is not loose now it is because you have missed one bolt.
its a very very common situation.

or

the way i do these may help u or may not.
when all of the bolts are loose but not removed, i will swat the plenum with a rubber mallet. the impact will loosen the piece instantly then i can remove the bolts.
it should be a metal gasket under there so no sticky stuff gluing it to the manifold.
however there is no accounting for hack mechanics who have used whatever to glue them together in the past. they ordered intake manifold gasket set, only to find out the set did not include the plenum gasket, so they improvise instead of getting the right gasket and no one wins.

i can count my bolts later this morning & report back.

pictures online show 9 bolts on plenum gasket

remember you have two braces on driver side. one in front and two bolts on the rear of the head . these hold the plenum in position.
remember to remove these with a 12 mm socket or gear wrench.

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Thanks! I'd already tried the rubber mallet but will give it some more tough love tonight.

I'm hesitant about sticking in a putty knife as I don't want to destroy a mating surface.

Based on how "well secured" the crankshaft pulley bolt was fastened I'm anticipating another multi-hour delay...beer, crying, swearing....

 

['round n' back again]

remember your bracing

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Got the bracing but missed one on the NW side...the endoscope came in handy. For posterity, there are 10 total bolts/nuts on a Gen1 89 3.0 air intake plenum cover (hopefully that helps people searching for the term):

2 long bolts out of the top
4 medium bolts on the passenger side along the intake
1 front bracket on drivers side
1 back bracket on drivers side (bolts are slightly different)
1 nut in front of the intake
1 nut behind the intake

1 nut back in the garage.

David

 

['round n' back again]

its the nut in the garage that worries me.

 

[coffeegoat]

There is always one leftover when I put everything back together..

 

[Deleted member 144409]

I've started a pile for screws/nuts/bolts that didn't end up in the proper storage location during this project. I think some of them sneak off on their own, laughing maniacally.

 

['round n' back again]

... then they come back to haunt you by showing up after you button up , wash hands and wifey is waitng to b picked up from work to go out....