Cracked intake?? Dillema....

ChadS98GT

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2001
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Parker, CO
Cracked intake?? Dillema.... **PICS**

I know this a common thing but it appears that I have a small crack or leak somewhere.....to make a long story short I think it has been leaking for about a week since I have been smelling coolant and had to refill my coolant twice now....(only about 1/2gallon total)....

My main question is...how long could I potentially drive on it in the condition it's in?? my main worry is driving and having the thing completely let go and then have to tow it and fix immediately....I really wanted to wait till next week when finals are over for school...but at the same time I don't want to be stranded....

good thing is I have all the parts I need because I was waiting for a good time to install my PI intake that I purchased.....

what would you do??
 
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Well I just got done finding the leak....it doesn't seem to leak at idle but when under RPM's say above 3-4k it leaks.....kind of shoots out like your spitting water in between your front teeth(first thought that came to mind :D )

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intake_crack.jpg


I have it squared there for you guys :)
 
Mine cracked in about that same place. Theres no fix but new manifold! :( I tried every kind of glue/epoxy i could find. Nothin worked. It really isn't too hard to swap the manifold. I dont know about doing the PI swap, that might be hard... dunno
 
Turbo92PGT said:
Mine cracked in about that same place. Theres no fix but new manifold! :( I tried every kind of glue/epoxy i could find. Nothin worked. It really isn't too hard to swap the manifold. I dont know about doing the PI swap, that might be hard... dunno


well from what I have researched it's pretty much the same just have to worry bout the ports lining up right so people are using some RTV to encourage the NPI gaskets to seal the PI intake. :D
 
As long as you have the parts and tools, you can do this fairly quickly. I wouldn't go too far if I was you on that type of leak. Just make sure you have the parts needed as per the previous swap posts i.e. RTV, new NPI gaskets, modify or replace altenator bracket with PI version and a place for your temp sensor. A half day total - start to finish will do it. Damn Ford for saying they "fixed" the cracking problems on 96/97s and still have the problem with '98s! Where's the updated extended coverage for '98s?
 
LI98GTStang said:
As long as you have the parts and tools, you can do this fairly quickly. I wouldn't go too far if I was you on that type of leak. Just make sure you have the parts needed as per the previous swap posts i.e. RTV, new NPI gaskets, modify or replace altenator bracket with PI version and a place for your temp sensor. A half day total - start to finish will do it. Damn Ford for saying they "fixed" the cracking problems on 96/97s and still have the problem with '98s! Where's the updated extended coverage for '98s?
Yeah I have everything......I am about to get started....I will keep you guys posted with pictures and whatnot......are there any torque specs on the stuff I am getting into?? I am wondering If I should go pick up a chiltons or something....I had one but lost it in the move. :bang:
 
ChadS98GT said:
Yeah I have everything......I am about to get started....I will keep you guys posted with pictures and whatnot......are there any torque specs on the stuff I am getting into?? I am wondering If I should go pick up a chiltons or something....I had one but lost it in the move. :bang:

The only ones I worried about are the Lower Intake bolts themselves. Torqued them to approx. 20ft lbs starting in the center and crisscrossing the order till I worked my way out to the ends. BTW, haynes manual for our cars is excellent. lot of pics etc....
 
I cracked my intake last night, and I got the car on thursday :-(

And becouse I live in Sweden (Europe) I have to order the part from the US and that will probably take i while.

I think my crack is in the same place as yours ChadS98GT, but my altenator is getting wet so I dont dare to drive it.

Do some one know what you can do so that it wount happend agian?

/Zebbe
 
Zebbe said:
I cracked my intake last night, and I got the car on thursday :-(

And becouse I live in Sweden (Europe) I have to order the part from the US and that will probably take i while.

I think my crack is in the same place as yours ChadS98GT, but my altenator is getting wet so I dont dare to drive it.

Do some one know what you can do so that it wount happend agian?

/Zebbe


A PI intake will be better......more protection and more HP :) try and get one with the aluminum crossover....I dind't but I couldn't pass up the deal for 75$
 
ChadS98GT said:
A PI intake will be better......more protection and more HP :) try and get one with the aluminum crossover....I dind't but I couldn't pass up the deal for 75$

Where can I find a PI intake? I have been seaching the net and only found intake for 5.0 and for the 4.6 I have only found expensive hi-flow kits or Bullit kits that need re-buliding.
 
LI98'...About the PI intake swap...what kind of tuning has to be done. I use Comp cams 268 grind cams and they didn't affect stock tuning, except for a light lope in idle. With the added airflow, is there a dead spot or lag? I'm curious because I have a PI intake sitting in my shed, I was gonna wait for the whole top end but I'd like to see the difference of the intake...
 
Red mustang Gt 46 said:
LI98'...About the PI intake swap...what kind of tuning has to be done. I use Comp cams 268 grind cams and they didn't affect stock tuning, except for a light lope in idle. With the added airflow, is there a dead spot or lag? I'm curious because I have a PI intake sitting in my shed, I was gonna wait for the whole top end but I'd like to see the difference of the intake...


you should be fine with the PI intake.....I havn't noticed any difference in driveability...car seems to run the same.
 
ChadS98GT said:
you should be fine with the PI intake.....I havn't noticed any difference in driveability...car seems to run the same.


Agree. With PI cams, car runs smooth and strong. I haven't heard of anyone needing a tune with just the PI intake. Aftermarket cams however might need a tune if your car has trouble idling etc..
 
Zebbe said:
Where can I find a PI intake? I have been seaching the net and only found intake for 5.0 and for the 4.6 I have only found expensive hi-flow kits or Bullit kits that need re-buliding.

I got mine off of ebay and I have seen them in classifieds come up time to time. If your in no rush, you can go that route, otherwise here is a place you can get one. BTW, not associated with them, just giving an example.

http://www.gefracing.com/Merchant2/...&Product_Code=M9424P46&Category_Code=46INTAKE