What are the revised torque specs lower intake manifold bolts

Tiny
JOHN OTTO
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
My intake gaskets went bad, I opened my radiator to check the level, I have had a small leak in a crack on the tank I repaired for years now. So I open the radiator cap and what I found was what looked like burnt chocolate pudding, so thick it would not come out the drain plug. So I bought a new radiator, and someone talked me into changing the plugs and wires myself. I filmed it when I got the radiator out and started pouring it out, it literally weighed fifty pounds it was so packed. Anyway, after a radiator change and a failed plug and wire install I started driving again, next day my new radiator was packed full and this started this journey, side note; the oil level and color were perfect until a month later when I parked it. So I started my every two day flush so the car did not overheat, this is my family's only vehicle after the engine blew in our 2008 Mazda 6 with 90,000 miles three weeks prior to the full radiator find. So I try various stop leaks which I know are bad but some helped a few days and some oil ones turned the oil unusable after a day, a few mechanics and auto zone advanced auto employees told me everything from that is dexcool to head gaskets to your block is packed still with that sludge keep flushing. So I drive until I get clean oil floating in the radiator and know it is bad, day or so later the radiator turns to vanilla pudding like fluid, then the oil turned to the same white pudding and some came in the heat vents on the floor. I parked it instantly, I started researching and found out about 3.4 intake gaskets and head gaskets and had a shop say $2,000.00 and another say no thanks on that job. So with my buddy talking me into we can do it ourselves I started taking my engine apart, you tube says an average of twelve hours to a day. I figured about the same, this week starts week nine! The videos all leave out the cleaning process for everything when burnt pudding oil has shot out the overflow covering everything on top of years of slight leaks baked on to a quarter inch thick crust we had to scrape to find the bolt heads. They leave out valve seals and lapping. They leave out finding TDC of a piston before torquing the rocker arms, so here I am. I found multiple torque specks for the rockers and lower intake bolts, feltpro says do not tighten the four angled outside bolts to 18 ft pounds they designed their gasket to fix that but do not say what to tighten to just what not to, and this top dead center (TDC) is stressing me out how do I find it. I have hundreds of hours in this and want it right. I cleaned every part like new and painted brackets and stuff, thanks.
Monday, December 4th, 2017 AT 9:10 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,973 POSTS
Hello,

Yep that is a big job glad you are doing it though. Here is a guide that can help others see what its like doing an intake manifold.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-intake-manifold-gasket

Here is a video on how to use a torque wrench.

https://youtu.be/juOClONIWeY

Here are the bolt sequence and torque specs (below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Thursday, December 7th, 2017 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,289 POSTS
Hi,

I would be happy to provide you with that information, but I have a favor to ask. We try to keep the threads specific to one topic and one type of vehicle so that it is more helpful to others. Could you please start a new thread specific to your vehicle and what is needed? Here is the link to start a new one. I hope you understand.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Again, I hope you understand. I will keep my eyes open for your question.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 AT 8:45 PM

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