89' pulling intake manifold questions
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Seminole FL
89' pulling intake manifold questions
In the process of removing the intake manifold to stop an oil leak at the back of drivers side. The 2 end bolts at no.7 were not torqued down and were very loose which caused the leak. All other bolts were tight. 70k miles on original gaskets from factory. Anyway, i'm trying to remove coolant from the manifold so it won't run into the engine oil when removed. I removed lower rad. hose and drained but there is still coolant showing up at the thermostat port. I siphoned that area dry. Any ideas how to remove the rest of the coolant from manifold?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
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From: Dublin CA
Remove the knock sensor from the block.....in front of the starter under the little shield. Then there is a plug in the block on the other side that you can remove to drain the driver's side of the block. Need to remove both. This drain plug will probably need a 6 point socket and a breaker bar.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
You could use this opportunity to drain the whole block. This way you will start with all new coolant and your cylinders will stay dry. At the bottom if each aide if the block is a plug that will stain the block. On the passenger side is usually a knock sensor. Remove this and water will drain out if that side if the block. On the drivers side, there will be a square plug or a hose fitting for the oil cooler. Drain this and you will have a pretty dry motor.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
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From: Jacksonville FL
Definitely go ahead and flush the block out making sure your heater is on and in the hot position so it will drain as well. I use a 50-50 mix and am using distilled water to help stop corrosion of the system. Try and have the front of the car elevated and as before the heater on so it will fill and burp properly. Once you have it full and the thermostat is open I like to rev the engine and "pack" water in while its at a steady 2Krpm or so. Fill your reservoir as well with the mix. You should be good to go.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Anaheim CA
Try and have the front of the car elevated and as before the heater on so it will fill and burp properly. Once you have it full and the thermostat is open I like to rev the engine and "pack" water in while its at a steady 2Krpm or so. Fill your reservoir as well with the mix. You should be good to go.
Having the heater on makes no difference in the way the water flows through the system, so there is no point in doing this.
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Seminole FL
Thx for the replies. I was hoping to stay away from removing anymore 25 year old bolts in order to clear the manifold of coolant. I'm still trying to drill out a broke off bolt at the thermo housing. So I cleared the thermostat port of coolant. What will happen if I don't drain the block via the 2 ports on either side and just yank off the intake manifold? I'm gonna hafta to change the oil anyway.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 55
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From: Seminole FL
I pulled the lft side sensor under plugs 1 and 3, a light trickle came out. Didn't bother with the rght side sensor. I yanked it off after a lil help with a pry bar up under the front of the manifold. It did have a few drops of coolant fall into the bottom of the valley which I wicked up w/ paper towels. I couldn't get the broken off bolt at the thermo housing to come out with a extractor so I took it to a machine shop. They drilled a 1/2 inch hole then threaded it with a fine threaded 1/2 - 20 and screwed a bolt in the hole using lock tight. Then he drilled a 3/8 hole inside the new 1/2 bolt and threaded it so a 3/8 inch bolt, same as original, will go back in it.
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