P.I. motor - can't get to spark plugs? wtf?

[FaykSaleen]

So it looks like my intake manifold has been replaced at some point with an oe aftermarket replacement piece and for some reason I can't get to 5 sparkplugs with the socket. The manifold almost looks like its sitting off center?

I'm gonna try to knock the bolts loose later and see if I can push the manifold towards the firewall but if it doesn't budge what do I do? Just bust out the dremel, hail mary and hope it doesn't cause any intake leaks?

 

[justinschmidt1]

So it looks like my intake manifold has been replaced at some point with an oe aftermarket replacement piece and for some reason I can't get to 5 sparkplugs with the socket. The manifold almost looks like its sitting off center?

I'm gonna try to knock the bolts loose later and see if I can push the manifold towards the firewall but if it doesn't budge what do I do? Just bust out the dremel, hail mary and hope it doesn't cause any intake leaks?

Post a picture...that makes no sense at all.

You should have no problem getting to any of the plugs.

 

[FaykSaleen]

I know it makes no sense at all that's why I'm stumped about the whole situation. 3 plugs are fully accessible then the rest the manifold just gets in the way. here's pics

 

[FaykSaleen]

Confirmation that I have not lost my mind lol

that's a pic one of the accessible ones.

 

[KillNThrill24]

That's the strangest thing I've ever seen. You could always take a little dremel and notch the manifold a little. The amount that you would need to remove wouldn't affect the manifold in any way. Just make sure you vacuum the left over debris out of the ports

Sent from my Galaxy Note 2

 

[justinschmidt1]

weird...must just be a badly made aftermarket piece?

Id say its safe to take a dremel and grind away enough material to get in there.

 

[chris91]

Lemme guess, Dorman aftermarket manifold? Ive heard of bad fitment and overall crap quality from them.

 

[Musturd]

Yea I'd try and track down a oem piece

 

[FaykSaleen]

Lemme guess, Dorman aftermarket manifold? Ive heard of bad fitment and overall crap quality from them.

Must be. There's no Ford stamping on it at all.

I'm going to dremel this out tonight, throw some new plugs in it, clean the motor up and put it up for sale. I wanted to stay 2 valve but I found a mark 8 motor locally I'm just gonna pick up. Fudge it.

 

[wildride02gt]

definitely looks like the Dorman piece, which is a POS. They were cheap as dirt at one point, and someone probably blew up the OEM one and replaced it with that POS. good luck on the mark 8 motor, looking forward to watching that swap happen.

 

[Cpotts13]

I had the same problem with my intake, the previous owner replaced it and when I went to get the spark plugs out from the passenger side they were all kinda covered up like the picture you posted. However I was able to jimmy the spark plug socket in there and get them off. The socket wouldnt fit coming up so I pulled it up as much as I could and crabbed it with some pliers the rest of the way. :thumbsup:

 

[Ninety8stang]

This happened to me and I feel It's pretty common on crappy dorman manifolds. All I did was removed the intake manifold and shaved it down with a dremel tool. Slap her back on and all was well!

 

[white95]

I <3 your cars 98 and Fayk!!!

 

[Ninety8stang]

I <3 your cars 98 and Fayk!!!

Thanks man! I appreciate it!

Did you get it fixed? Haha

 

[white95]

Well.. Yes and no

 

[MustangChris]

PI swap. FTW