cracked intake manifold on 98 GP GT

[BackwoodsEngineering]

I just brought my 98 GP GT home today. This is the same GP I have mentioned many times before. After looking at the engine, it appears that my intake manifold is cracked. I called someone, and he said that a cracked intake manifold on my car can hydrolock the engine. Currently, all the engine does when I turn the key to try starting it, it goes "click". I wad told that because of the pressure, the starter can't crank it over, and that I'd why it clicks. I was advised to pull all of my spark plugs, and then try turning it over to see what it does. Any other thoughts or advice? Looks like I'm buying an upgraded UIM kit.

[brandonl2000]

EDIT: ha, for some reason i read exhaust manifold. yeah. this happened to me on my 99gt. it was hydrolocked and we had no clue what was going on until we dug into it.
and it did affect the bearings. about 3k miles later or so it spun a bearing on the interstate. so i'd be careful

here's some photos and a vid.


annnd the end result, spun bearing lol.
http://s96.photobucket.com/user/Bran..._0325.mp4.html

[FordMan77]

Yep. Disable fuel and ignition, remove plugs and give it a crank. If flooded the cylinders should clear out. Hopefully it didn't bend a rod or something in the bottom end if it hydrolocked.

[BillBoost37]

This is what happened.
http://www.grandprixforums.net/97-03-na-l36-uim-failure-60667.html

The only potential issue is that when hitting th ekey that many times when it's hydrolocked, can hurt the bearings in the bottom end. Because the starter is pretty strong and a cylinder or two are locked up.

[brandonl2000]

lol, read it wrong. edited. but yeah, had the same problem, didn't end well.

[BackwoodsEngineering]

Should I just pull the fuel pump fuse to disable the fuel part, and what should I do to disable the ignition?

[brandonl2000]

I know dad and I took the plugs out and turned it over to get the water out. But I'd be for gettin the uim done up first.

[BackwoodsEngineering]

Dorman UIM upgrade kit is being ordered, along with aluminum LIM gasket, and the aluminum coolant elbows. I just want to pull the plugs and see if it will crank at all. Not too worried about the bottom end. Salvage yard is only 15 minutes away. Plenty of 3800s in there.

[FordMan77]

To disable the ignition I typically will remove the connection from the ICM. One small bolt holds it on then just wiggle the harness until it pops loose. Make sure it doesn't get in the way of any moving parts (belt, pulley, etc..).

[BillBoost37]

In this case.. it'll only get fuel prime once.. when you first turn the key to on. Just yank the plugs and kick it over. No real need to disable ignition and fuel.