plenum pull troubles

[a1991zr1]

I have pulled this plenum three frickin times to fix vacuum leaks and starter the third time crank no-start was a dreaded bent pin now it starts and runs great however saw white steam out of exhaust and immediately shut it down. no water in oil and plugs are clean. i had some antifreeze get in a secondary forgot to drain the third time shop vac it out and before starting pulled plugs and blew out cylinders by turning it over. what the hell have i done. it finally was idling at 704 and idc was at 43 not zero and she runs great. please tell me it didn't totally screw up as this was my inheritance and right now i am sick to my frickin stomach.

[LGAFF]

coolant leak.....did youuse new gaskets? and where did you get them from?

If you got some in the IHs.....does not take much to create a lot of smoke..

[a1991zr1]

My father owned an Auto parts store and Had several sets of gaskets and before i sold the store I built a stock pile of plugs wires rotors calipers compressor alt. starter etc. there is no water in oil at all and antfrezze system will hold pressure could this be what the residule in Ih and it just needs to run I really dont want to f this up first plenum pull and it has been rough. wish dad were alive i need a little moral support right now.

[LGAFF]

Its possible, some may have moved into the exhaust and is buring ogg... if they are stock gaskets they should not leak. I am sure you know this, but just in case, there is coolant that runs through the plenum.


Best bet would be to drain some of the coolant out of the drain **** and pull it to inspect and reseal. PITA, but no way to guarantee whats going on without being there.

[a1991zr1]

should i let it run and see if steam stops she runs so damn good and has no hesitation the idle is perfect no codes found in history fuel pressure is perfect. just pulled all plugs and none are washed hell none were wet. now what should i do turn it over again with no plugs and there ( and inj fuses pulled') and there was nothing to come out of cylinders should i run it for a few or yank this prick again.

[a1991zr1]

do you mind calling me 936 828 1908 so we can chat

[mike100]

It sounds like you didn't drain the water lever down far enough and just dribble some coolant into the intake ports. If it didn't break it already, you'll be fine. pulling the plugs was good insurance for that.

it will just steam for a couple of minutes. If there was so much as to get into the mufflers (like when a head gasket blows), it could take 15 minutes, but I think you'll be fine.

[a1991zr1]

well she runs like a top. although popped a code 61 right o2 sensor lean. The beast exhaled steam for about 15 minuets but clear code and He runs like the king he is. Idle is at 675 never idled that well. all this hard worked paid off. next step is to finish final detail on entire inside and install New rotors and pads and stainless brakelines. The rear strut bar is suppose to be delivered in the a.m and will work on that install next. I am no longer scared of the dreaded plenum pull. Special props and respect to all that helped give me moral and tech support.

[Paul Workman]

Plenum pulling can be really simplified by plugging the throttle body coolant holes in the IH. by drilling and tapping and setting a plug in the hole, a plenum pull can be done without having to drain coolant OR fuss with getting the air out afterward!

Also, I use a thin layer of that blue Permatex gasket sealant on one side of the plenum gasket to "glue" it down to the IH, and BEFORE putting the gasket on the IH, I sprayed the plenum side of the gasket with silicone spray (you DON'T want to spray it after placing it on the IH, as the silicone will get down inside the IH runners and KILL the O2s) That way the gasket stays put while jockying the plenum around to get the holes aligned, and on the next pull, after the bolts are removed, sliding a thin putty knife between the gasket and the plenum and running the knife the length of the gasket may allow you to reuse that gasket at least 3 times...ask me how I know!

Also, I have a handy dandy 3/8" drive allen "wrench" with a 4" long shank (converted my plenum and such to stainless allen bolts) that I hook to my air-driven ratchet (a drill would work too) and wheeeeeee, wheeeeeee, wheeeeee.... that plenum comes off or goes on so easy, I don't even think about it as much than pulling a carburetor ... (Not that I have to pull it that often (after removing the secondary stuff, installed new injectors, and having R&R'ed everything under there already)).

Welcome to the club!

P.

[tomtom72]

Hi, and welcome. You wrote that you found a DTC61? That is not an O2 sensor DTC, that is a secondary port throttle fault. I would just recheck that DTC number just to be sure what DTC the ECM is giving you.


Tom