I just put in new injectors, and as you all know that requires taking off the plenum and runners. Well, when I put it all back together I noticed that I had the TV cable on the outside of the runners. Dang! Anyway, I'm thinking that I'll have to remove it from the tranny and route it back down under the plenum to get it to work right again. There's no way I'm taking the plenum and runners off again. I don't think the big square fitting on the TV linkage is removable, it looks like a factory job.

Has anyone done this? I'm thinking about running a wire or string when I pull it out so I can use it to route it back it. Does this make sense? Any advice is appreciated.

 

Umm, yeah, I've done it, too. (DUH to me!) That's why I try to caution people when removing the plenum about routing the cables first. You'll probably see that in a few replies about that if you search.

IIRC, I was able to get the TV cable back through the runners without removing the plenum, but it would have been faster just to loosen one set of runners and pull the plenum. I got it in without damnaging anything, but it did take a lot of patience and effort.

What a P.I.T.A., eh?

 

I'll concur that it's possible to get it without removing the plenum. Now, if you had a super ram you'd be taking the whole thing apart. Yes, I've forgotten on both intakes.

 

Pulling the plenum is a gravy job. I cannot fathom why you would consider pulling the TV cable at the tranny end just to reroute it when the plenum can be R&Red in 5 minutes flat

 

I agree with Ed. I've done it before. I just popped the plenum and it was done in about 10 minutes.

 

No kidding. Just losen the plenum and pop it off. It only takes 10 minutes to do.

 

The only thing I'm worried about is that I've been plagued with intake leaks at the plenum, so I used RTV. The idea of rerouting the TV cable does sound like a PITA, so I think I'll take your advice and take my chances with the plenum. I guess the worst that could happen is I have to take everything all apart again and start over.

 

I acutally used this sealant called the "right stuff", and I think it might come apart without hurting the seal I created to bad. Has anyone had any experience with this stuff?

I'd love to pop up the plenum, and bolt it back on with no leaks.

Thanks...

 

your not talking about Great Stuff are you? expanding foam sealant/insulation for like basements and houses? that **** ain't gonna be good on an engine...

 

No, this is automotive sealant. Sensor safe etc. But when it dries it's supposed to dry like rubber instead of crispy rtv. Not sure how well it works though, it's my first time trying it. Came recommended to me by a mechanic friend.

 

I've never had any trouble routing the TV cable under the runners without pulling anything? I've done it about 10 times on 88 and 89 IROCS, I can do it in about 3 min., is there something different I'm not reading here?

 

I forgot to mention, Edelbrock base with SLP runners. I tried to squeeze it through for over an hour, there was just not enough clearance. I can't even loosen the runners without pulling the valve covers, and with Crane 1.6 rockers the valve covers put up quite a fight.

I'm going yo try to work on it today, and I'm leaning towards prying out the plenum, and prying it back in. Then hope there's no leaks. Not sure though.

 

I had my TV cable routed on the outside of the runners. No problem at all and it reaches the TB just fine. Why must it be routed on the inside of the runners??

EDIT - I just looked at a few pictures of my old TPI setup and I was wrong. I had the TV cable mounted on the inside of the runner also. My Bad...So, just remove the 8 bolts to the plenum and yank that thing up. That's really your only choice.

 

ok I see the prob now, you justy have to pull the plenum off, sorry for the bad news

 

Great stuff, I use it.

 

SLP runners are a different story, nope it probably won't fit. I haven't forgotten to route mine beforehand with my runners installed, thank ***. Nothing like putting things together and forgetting something so you've got to take it apart all over again.

As far as vacuum leaks with those runners.. that shouldn't be a problem if you've got new gaskets and take care to tighten the bolts properly. Using sealant on the intake is just covering up your mistakes(unless the runners have casting flaws that keep them from sealing, which I haven't ever seen).

 

I re-used my plenum gaskets once... next time I pulled the plenum off, I saw traces of oily dirt on the sides of the gaskets. Apparently by reusing those old gaskets, I created vacuum leaks. So now I've kept an old gasket, and when I pull the top off, I cut a new one using an xacto knife, a punch, and some flat black gasket material for $3. Beats buying the Felpro kit.

 

I finally got it routed correctly. I had to take the valve covers and plenum off to reroute it. Thanks for the replies!

 

Good news! And it only took 13 years, too.