I have some work coming up on my car, including replacing my heater core, replacing rear engine mount, replacing the oil cooler o-ring, and replacing all coolant hoses on the engine.

I plan to remove the intake manifold to help get access between the engine head and firewall. Can I just remove the whole fat dual-runner manifold and fuel rail/injectors as one big unit? I don't really want to mess with removing injectors for fear of them leaking after putting them back in, or something else going wrong.

The engine has 271K miles on it, and this will be the first time the intake manifold has come off. I will of course be replacing the IM gasket (just a OEM one, not the plastic type, as engine is bone stock). Also, how do I get to the row of nuts/studs along the bottom side of the IM flange? Is there room to get up there from underneath?

 

The injectors and rail can come out cleanly after disconnecting the feed hose at either the filter or dynamic damper, return hose at the FPR, and injector clips/harness. I find it easiest for me to pull the return line off the FPR and remove the injectors from the manifold but leaving them in the rail. It requires the least amount of work but with your mileage so high, it will probably be a struggle any method you choose.

The IM is a bitch to get off. There is a stubborn bracket that braces the underside of the manifold. There was no way in hell I was going to reinstall that brace, so I chucked it. I suspect you will want to do the same. Once that comes off, the bolts not accessible from the top are accessible from underneath after removing the oil filter and getting sensors, plugs, and other **** out of the way. Don't expect an easy fight from the gasket either. You will have a hell of a time getting the deteriorated cork from the flange mating surfaces.

Good luck.

 

when you get it off throw that PITA brace off a cliff!

 

dart hit errything on the head. .some of the bottom row of nuts mainly the ones by 1 n 4 u can get from the top but the othas u.ll hafta get unda the car. .n that support bracket can suck one!! lol.