Will not start after Intake manifold gasket replacement?

Tiny
GYPSYMAGIC1769
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD MUSTANG
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I replaced the intake manifold gaskets on the car listed above GT model, and now it doesn't want to start. I did not torque the intake manifold back on and I also have a slight gap between the throttle body and the intake. Please help, I need my car running before snow hits and I don't know what to do.
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Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 AT 10:23 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

The gap between the throttle body and intake is a major problem. That will create one big air leak. There must be something preventing it from sealing. Check to make sure nothing got pinched between the two when you installed.

Next, how was the intake tightened?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
GYPSYMAGIC1769
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hey Joe, I tightened intake with a regular 3/8 socket wrench because I don't have a torque wrench, but I did take the throttle body off today and noticed that the 4 screw points on the intake where the throttle body screws to the intake are coming out of the intake can this be fixed or do I need a new intake all together? If you want or need pictures of what I described just let me know. Thanks.
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Saturday, December 30th, 2023 AT 11:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

Is it possible to get a few pictures? Do you mean the screws have gone through the manifold?

Joe
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Sunday, December 31st, 2023 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
GYPSYMAGIC1769
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, I don't think the screws went through the manifold, I circled the points that are starting to come out of the manifold.
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Monday, January 8th, 2024 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

It's really hard to tell in the pics, but they still appear to be okay. Even if one or two of them had a slight leak, it should have still run.

The only thing I can say is to reinstall it, make sure the gap is no longer present, and see what happens.

If it doesn't start after reinstalling it, we need to go in a different direction.

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 AT 8:04 PM

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