i have everything off to remove the plenum but, the thing wont budge. i tried to lift it up and slide it out but it wont budge, so i wrapped a crow bar in a shirt to try and lift it out and, it still wouldnt budge. im starting to think they used super glue as a gasket sealent because, when i took the throttle body off i had to yank on it as hard as i could. so i guess im asking if there is any kind of tricks to get the plenum off easier, without removing the runners? also what type of gasket sealent to use when i finally do get this off? so i dont run into this problem again.

 

after a final check to be certain all bolts are removed,take a rubber mallet at give it some LOVE,no sealant should be used here at all or on the runners just the intake gaskets around the water jackets and the front side/back side of manifold

 

yeppers.

What he said.

Make sure nothing is holding it in and give it some love taps.

Gaskets have metal in them and the pieces are aluminum. they take a liking to each other so u need some persuation.

later
Jeremy

 

This may sound like a dumb question, but did you loosen the runner to intake manifold bolts? If those are still tight, you'll have a hard time pulling the plenum out, and an impossible time reinstalling it later.

 

Thats right,,, the runner to intake bolts should be loosened.
Then the plenum will fall off.

Dont forget that there is a wire hookup to the bottom side of the plenum, dont ripe that off.

 

And the vacuum lines, including the rather large one to the brake booster.

Whatever you do, dont pry on the runner tubes themselves. They'll bend.

 

This is good info, because I just bought a ported Plenum. So I'll be changing that in the spring. I hope to find a good set of runners, so I can change them all together.
If I really get some cash I'll buy a new intake to match the runners.
But If all else fails I'll just change the Plenum for now.
So you need to lossen the lower part too.....so actually its best to take the runners right off? If your going to lossen them.....might as well change the gaskets if its all OEM am I correct?

 

could be a problem however in the 15 years of working on these cars i have never had to loosen any other bolts to remove the plenum,the actually move back a lil,the gasket is holding the runner in place thats all!

 

i made positively sure everything was off that needed to be off. that was gonna be my next step to loosen the runner to manifold bolts. i will give it a go later.

thanks for all the responses

 

alright, got the plenum off and ran into another problem. i stripped 1 of the little bastard torx bolt on the regulator. every other 1 came loose easily except 1. before i break out the vice grips, anybody have any suggestions? i was thinking of cutting a slot in it with a dremel tool, so i can get a flat head screw driver in there.

 

I did the slot, worked quite well.

 

Try the slot first.

If that fails then grab the vise grips lol

later
Jeremy