Removing Intake Question (spark plugs)

[Blue-By-U]

Before I sell her, I want to replace the spark plugs and wires. I never did this before so I need tips on how to remove the intake. What and where are the bolts that need to come out. I just don't want to do anything seriously wrong.

Thanks
~Alex

 

[Dr.Evil]

I just got done doing it without taking the intake off. It is a bit tricky, but doable. You will need to slip off the plastic clips that snap onto the coilpack to slip them through the intake to the proper holes. You can get the back spark plugs out using a long extention and a short extention with a deep 5/8'th socket and a 3/8 drive ratchet. You will need to unbolt the back little vaccume resivor that activates the secondaries.
It sounds like a pain, but is MUCH easier than taking the entire intake off. And your hands dont get all chewed up.

 

[rob 4 sho]

at first glance removing the intake may look tricky but it is doable. what you need to do is set aside an entire day because there are a lot of vaccume hoses and a lot of bolts. what i suggest to you is that you mark every hose and every bolt because when you go to reinstall the intake it can look complicated. also don't diassemble the intake it makes things harder then they have to be. also be careful with the throttel box
good luck.

 

[jbeano]

I've run the wires with and without removing the intake but by far the easier way is without the intake on. It looks like a difficult job but just keep track of all the connections and it will be a breeze.

 

[Huntervf]

The hardest part about removing the intake IMO are the coolant hoses around the TB...but then again if you just want to replace plugs and wires there's no need to remove the TB with the intake, so that saves you from removing the 3 or 4 coolant hoses in that area.

You have 12 intake runner bolts (10mm), 3 intake support bracket bolts (12mm) and one weird intake support bracket bolt (a 15mm nut AND a 3/4inch bolt, this one is on the passenger rear intake bracket), one 12mm bolt near the throttle body and the intake is loose. Then remove the 4 throttle body bolts (12mm, and actually you'll have 2 nuts and 2 bolts, but they're all 12mm). Disconnect the fuel pressure regulator vaccum hose (left side near the DIS), unplug the DIS module, remove the secondary butterfly vaccum hose (big hose on the back of the intake), unplug the secondary control (also on the back in about the middle of the intake), unplug the idle air bypass valve (behind the throttle body), remove both PCV hoses on the front of the intake near the TB (one hose attaches to the intake near the TB and runs down to the cam cover, the other one is smaller, not sure where it runs to), and finally there's one coolant line that needs to be removed from the intake, I believe is comes up underneath the IAB or in that vicinity...you'll see which one when you lift it up. I know I know, sounds like alot but it just took me longer to type this than it would for you to do it. And there's no measurements to remember, no clearances to check or anything...just R & R (remove and replace). When reinstalling be sure not to overtighten the bolts...just nice and snug is all you need.

I would recommend having a helper to lift the intake up...it's heavier than you think and the throttle body can be stubborn to get off sometimes. Of course with the intake off the plugs/wires are layed out right in front of you, and when you do this once you'll wonder why people scrape knuckles to change plugs and wires with the intake on.

I believe http://www.shotimes.com has a good write up on this procedure as well.

 

[sdpatt]

Alex, you've got mail.

 

[SHOZ123]

The hardest part about removing the intake IMO are the coolant hoses around the TB...but then again if you just want to replace plugs and wires there's no need to remove the TB with the intake, so that saves you from removing the 3 or 4 coolant hoses in that area.

Best thing to do with these is to bypass the IAC and TB coolant lines and loop them block to block.

 

[aleksander j]

scott... if the e-mail was about removing the intake i`d like to have it too.. thinking of cleaning the intake.. started one day but gave up after the 12 bolts in the middle..
[email protected]

 

[Mark]

I would also like to get a copy of that email if it is about how to remove the intake.Mine is in desperate need of a good cleaning and new plugs and wires thanks
[email protected] thumbs_u

 

[Dr.Evil]

It really not that difficult. It is just time consuming. The key is to remember where everything goes and not have any nuts/bolts left over when you think it is done.
The back passengers side support bracket is the worst part. On the bottom, the first nut is 13 MM, then there is a piece of metal that is mounted to the stud that slides off and then take a 12MM deep socked with 1/4in drive ratchet to get the bottom stud loose. The top is easier but the outer is 15MM and the inner is 19MM. All of the others are 12MM. Once you do it once, you should be able to take it on and off in about an hour. Like I said before, its not that tough. It just looks like it is.

 

[IAS92SHO]

It looks a little intimidating, but its not bad. I have done it 3 times in the past two months, and I feel confident that plugs and wires can be done in about 2 hours. But don't rush it. I labeled all the vacuum hoses and coolent lines with masking tape. Also I replaced my intake gasket the first time, I only have 60K, but the gasket was shot.