The question of the day. The intake manifold WILL NOT seal. It is as flat as flat can be, replaced the gasket twice over the course of the last few days. One interesting thing to note is that the head has more holes for mounting the manifold than the manifold has holes to mount with. I found this very peculiar. The truck runs fine at speed, but there is definately a vacuum leak, and its definately from the manifold.


In short, I am trying to find the exact year of my motor. I know it can be possibly found by the vin. The head is clearly new as it is MUCH cleaner and metallic looking than the block. Im soooooo confused on this one, any help is welcome.

 

got some pics of the head?

 

That i didnt, it was all done at his shop. Ill have the manifold off again come Monday.

 

not sure how to help you then... not that I really know anything

 

well, between work early tomorrow morning and the mrs. christmas party tonight, i dont have time to pull it. Gotta head out now though. Is there any other way i can find it out? like where is the vin on the block located? Not trying to be short, but walking out the door. thanks in advance though.

 

Take a look at the pics below. If your intake has the extra holes in the head, it's possible someone has installed a 22R (efi) celica head. Not a big deal, just extra holes.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

If you have checked both sides (intake side of head and intake manifold) of the the intake and all checks OK..... make sire you are not using too much silicone for a sealer.

The only time I ever use it, it's in VERY SMALL quantities ONLY around the coolant port on the intake/head. If there is a gasket and the surfaces are straight, you should NEVER use silicone as a sealer.

If you used a Roloc disc to remove the gasket........... you are on your own.....

Let me know if you have questions....

Jerry

 

you proberly got a 22r that will also bolt efi. so they will be more bolt hole than manifold. it the standard 84 head.

 

there ya go

 

Hmm. Going off of the space between the first intake port and the fuel pump port, it has the correct head. But, why wont this thing seal? Is there a preffered gasket you guys use? I know felpro sucks, but what else is there? Or is there possibly another reason its doing this?

 

well, looks like he used some sort of gasket maker along with the gasket. Ill be pulling it off after work today.

 

We sell a Corteco intake set (intake gasket and plenum gasket) that is kinda thick.

I have done tons of installs personally, and I have never had an issue even using paper-thin gaskets. ALTHOUGH..... since I am OCD enough, I always surface the intake manifold and straight edge the manifold side of the head.

NEVER use a roloc (3-m) disc to remove the gasket, they do WAAAAAyyyyy more harm than good. A new sharp razor blade and a bucket load of patience (and maybe a couple of Sierra Nevada pale ales) keep the surfaces flat.

NEVER use silicone. Silicone+gasoline = goo. Only a thin layer around the coolant port of the intake.

It's possible a thicker gasket (do not double up 2 thin ones) can take up some of the un-even-ness.

Also when you tighten the manifold to the head, snug all of the bolts by hand, and start at the CENTER bolts and work outward on the final torque.

Keep us posted

 

Thank you so much for the help. i just got home, going to start on it here in a few, give it some time to cool down.

 

Hey, do you know the actual torque for the intake manifold bolts?

 

The best solution is to ignore the torque specs. Unless your torque wrench has been properly calibrated recently, and it is the 3/8" drive type clicker that only goes to 40 lb ft, it will OVERTORQUE the 8mm bolts. You'll end up stripping the threads.

snug them down by hand, then use common sense not to overtighten them. They have split washers on the bolts and the nuts are flanged, just hand tighten them, they aren't going anywhere.

Sadly most torque wrenches are not accurate at the lower torque settings, and end up ruining threads in aluminum.

 

So, pulled the manifold, then went and paid bills. If i were to say how enraged i am at him (mechanic), i would more than likely be banned. He put the two nuts on the studs, and 4 of the six bolts back in. Another finding, he used the 3m pad on it. I am sooooooooooo freaking mad its not even funny. well here is the pics for id of the head, it has more bolt holes for the intake manifold than are required, but the casting itself resembles the 85 and up head. im even more confused now.

 

Upon further inspection, its 85 or newer. But, the question is, how new, what year? I got the hookup on a complete 22re for 500 bucks. My engine, when running, runs cherry, the 22re, not sure as its been sitting on a tire in a buddy's backyard for a year. Would it be worth the 500 for all the 22re parts, then just rebuild the block and head and sell it to pay for a harness and computer?

 

Upon further inspection, its 85 or newer

they still take the same gasket

but not neccasry an 85. the 84 had holes for the efi and carb, of course you going have holes not needed. the 85 has holes that not needed. if you want to knw what year. if the exhaust ports are round 84 if they are pear shape 85

 

Going off of these pics, focus on the 4 bolts around the center port, then the three bolts around the rear port, where the 84 and older has only two. I cant pull the exhaust manifold off as no one in town has the gasket and i need the truck back on the road asap, its too cold for the bike.

 

I know they take the same gasket, knew that from the beginning, but eventually going to efi, so wanted to know what year.

 

Got her finished!!! Runs like a champ, just need to fine tune the webber. It just further perpetuates the fact that in this day and age you cant trust any mechanic to the fullest. The more I look at it, the more I realize, he was just trying to make some more money, and it didn't work. Messed up thing is, I know him personally, and this is just completely unacceptable. The worst thing you can do to me, is to lie to me. I'm going back there in the morning, not to cause trouble mind you, but to let him know how low he sunk to make a buck and the friendship he just lost. I have been out at his shop when all the employees left at 5, and he was there alone trying to finish a customers car till one in the morning, and guess what, I was there helping him the whole time. Sorry for venting but this just totally got to me.