I just installed a TPIS Big Mouth Intake Manifold on my GTA. Before I put the runners, fuel rail, plenum, and throtle body back on I filled the radiator with coolant. Coolant started to leak from a tapped hole by the distributor hold down bolt. I plugged it with a bolt and some teflon tape. This bolt came with the Big Mouth. I also plugged an identical hole on the alternate side towards the front of the Big Mouth with another bolt that was also supplied with the package just to make sure. Then I began to fill the radiator up again, and there was another leak. This time it was coming out of the the hole for the runner bolt on the driver's side. This is the bottom bolt hole between the rear two runner inlets on the driver's side of the manifold. I haven't started to fill it up again. I want to install the runners, with teflon tape on the bolts first to make sure that leaks don't come from thr other holes. Has anyone ever had this problem when they installed this manifold on there cars?? Am I the only person who had this problem?? The car is almost finished. I have already installed a TPIS ZZ-9 Camshaft, matching valve springs, and a Cloyes True Double Roller Timing Chain. I don't want to have to return this manifold to TPIS and have to wait on them for delivering a new one since the car is almost ready to be fired up. Anyone with comments of similar criteria will help to ease my mind on the subject. I will definitely notify TPIS on this.

 

Hey sounds like you got a problem here? I installed one on my TA and didn't have a problem at all. Mines an 88', maybe it's your year car, maybe the coolant holes in the head are different for your year, although they shouldn't be? Is your GTA a 305 or 350? Mines a 305. This sounds really weird, I can't figure out how it can be leaking where it is , especially if you teflon taped the bolt holes. I hate to tell ya, but you might have to take it back off totally and let it dry out. Then use the teflon glue stuff(Pemetex, makes it)and reseal the bolt holes and let it dry for a few hours, then reinstall it and torque everything down in the correct order. You did torque it down in the right sequence, right? Let me know how it works out. Hope this advise works. good luck. If I lived closer to ya I'd help out.

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88'TA 305TPI 330HP, NATURALLY ASPIRATED, PASSES N.J. EMMISIONS. "I AM JUST THAT GOOD"

 

1BADAZTA,

I have a 1988 GTA 5.7L. Everything was tightened down to GM's specs and sequence. The leaks came from the holes before the bolts were in place. I used the bolts to plug the holes. I just received a post in the generel tech engine section. Some one else had the same problem with the Edelbrock Intake. This is the same intake that TPIS uses but goes a step further and ports it. He says that everything was fine after he installed the runners. No leaks. Thanks for the reply.
Is see that you live in Lakewood. That's down the shore right? If I'm correct, that's near Lakehurst. Lakehurst is where I bought my car. Would you be interested to take your car to ATCO? I plan to make a few runs down there when the car is finished. They are open all year. Maybe we can set something up and meet up to go down there. Let me know. JosephAndres@aol.com

 

Joseph, what days is the ATCO track open?
I've fix a few things on my car and was wondering what my new times are. If I can I'll hit the track with you if you want.
email me.
Thanks
Mike

 

Joe, the big mouth base is the mother for all coolant leaks. I had the same problem with mine. I had the leak in the back and on the bottom runner bolt on the pass side front of the manifold. I used silicon on both bolts and no more leaks. Good luck!



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David Tuschhoff
1991 RS Camaro M5
A SuperRammed, TPIS,
Ross, AFR, Scat, Crane,
CompCams induced 355!
My f-body page!

 

Thanks for all of the replies. This is very helpful. I will use teflon tape on all of the runner bolts when i install them.

Ski89Z28,
ATCO is open Tues., Thurs., Fri. @ 5:30 PM, Sat. @ 12 PM, and Sun. @ 9AM. E-mail me at JosephAndres@aol.com and let me know. The car will not be completed for a couple of days.

 

Joe,
Forget about teflon tape. Buy the liquid type. It seals the bolt threads much better.

Besides I never fill the radiator until I have bolted everything together.

Drain the radiator out and finish your job.
The last thing you do is fill the radiator up along with the resovior(sp) bottle.



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'87 L98 TPI IROCZ, AFR190 heads, 3.70 gears, ZZ9 cam, 2400 Art Carr TC, SLP 1 3/4" headers, SLP cat-back, no cat, no AC, no MAF screens, Accel manifold base & SuperRam, Edelbrock double roller timing chain, MSD ext coil & distributor, trans cooler, 52mm TB with airfoil, TB coolant bypass, AFPR(58psi), K&N filters, Hotchkis lowering springs, Car-Pro custom chip, Lay Ind. ram air kit, 265/45R16 Kumho V700 tires.
ET 13.39sec @ 107.21mph
'90 Eagle Talon AWD, no rust thru 9 winters
'99 Camaro SS, red, 6-spd, T-tops, Mcleod clutch, Pro 5.0 shifter, MAF processor, Direct Flow airlid, K&N filter.
313.7Hp & 320.6ft-lbf, ET 13.55sec @ 105.1mph
next mod: 4.10 rear gears

 

And instead of BOLTS, you should be using pipe plugs that are made for closing open holes where liquid will flow. Bolts will have a slightly different thread pitch and may not seal the hole properly, even with Teflon tape. You may not see a problem now, but down the road you might. Better to do it right the first time. I used several of the plugs that came with my Holley intake. They are gold/brass in color. Just FYI...