Crappy day.... how to break the seal on LIM gasket?

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

So I've had a cold start and idle belt squeak since in installed my rocker arms. After noticing a very slow coolant leak I inspected my old plastic elbows to find that one had broken off in the water pump or lower intake right around the o ring. It was in the lower intake and in the process of retrieving it, it fell inside the lower intake.

Yay!!! Now I get to replace my lower intake gaskets that are perfectly fine.

Picked up the gaskets, new aluminum elbows and grey rtv.

Got everything expect the the egr and lower intake removed in under an hour. Now that damn lower intake manifold is thumbing it's nose at me after eating the broken off piece of elbow. I've yanked on it and beat on it with a plastic deadblow to no avail.

Any idea to get this little **** to come loose?

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

why the hell are you doing a lim to change a elbow??????

you take the alt off then unbolt its bracket, change both elbows.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

Read again. One elbow broke when doing me ER rocker install back in February. Didn't notice it until I realized I had a small coolant leak. Took the newer elbow out and a piece of the old elbow was stuck in the lower intake manifold. Tried to get old piece out and it said "not today" and fell inside the LIM.

Must remove lower intake to retrieve broken part of elbow which fell inside of it, or it can clog the cooling system up. I'd like to avoid that if possible. Dealer laughed at me and said it happens more often than you'd think.

**MyLittlePony** · 10-14-2015

I have done something similar, but with a Bosch engine scope and one of their craptastic attachments, it fell into cylinder 4. I had to do the head gaskets.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

id leave it in there, or poke around with a pick. its not going any where really. thats the elbow that pushes coolant out, the lower one takes it back in the engine.

and how do rockers make a elbow leak?

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

With all the issues I've heard about with elbows I figured why not replace them why I've got the engine apart. I didn't notice when I took the originals out that a small broke off in the lower intake. It caused a poor seal which made coolant leak onto my belt, causing the cold idle squeal.

And to LS1Adam84, from the looks of this setup the intake runners don't come near the coolant passage.... I hope.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

it cant get into a cylinder. its trapped in the lims coolant port there.

some lims have a lip so it cant go in the lim, some dont, if your lucky maybe its just inside the hole still, being it leaked with a new one in the hole.

mine also snapped off, but i have that lip, pulled it out with two picks.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

I tried pulling it out with picks. Sucker is in there deeper than John Holmes. I'll give it go again tomorrow but I pulled so hard on the LIM I almost ended up in the engine bay.

**FordMan77** · 10-14-2015

In trying to remove the LIM, you did remember about the 2 hidden bolts that are usually covered in oil, right?? One is in the front right corner, and one on the back left corner if you are facing the front bumper looking at the engine.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

Yeah I pulled a total of 12 of them out. Two of them didn't touch the LIM and just screwed into the head for whatever reason.

Looks like I'll be picking up some sealant for the bolts too, they had some form of loctite on them.

The service manual is laughable. It just says remove upper intake and all lower intake bolts. Might as well be a Haynes.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

id just let it fly. its just a little round ring of plastic. what harm can it do really?

the lim makes sure you got all the bolts out if your gonna pop it off. theres a couple on the inside of a n/a lim, they get covered in oil and can be hard to see.

you got 12 bolts in hand?

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

if all the bolts are out, get a pry bar or a 2x4 and wedge it under the lin near the t stat, then on the cross over pipe, give it a little pry action.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

Not sure if there's something different about the L26 but the dealer says they always pull the intake and get it out. Usually to cover their ass in case it does do harm.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

Do I need to remove the coolant temp sensor (I'm guessing that's what it is). Saw a plastic sensor with a brass fitting and wire underneath the thermostat screwed into the lim

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

pop it off. your almost there already. take the egr tube out too, you dont want to bust that.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

Originally Posted by TemplesofLamneth

Do I need to remove the coolant temp sensor (I'm guessing that's what it is). Saw a plastic sensor with a brass fitting and wire underneath the thermostat.

nope just unplug it. if you pry from that area dont smash it.

**ericspecullaas** · 10-14-2015

while the intake is off you "can" replace the coolant sensor

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

Originally Posted by ericspecullaas

while the intake is off you "can" replace the coolant sensor

dont replace it, the new one wont work right, i guarantee it. seen that crap a 1000 times so far.

**TemplesofLamneth** · 10-14-2015

I'll give her a try tomorrow. Been up since 4am. I need a beer and some sleep.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-14-2015

ive never had to pry one off but others have. im a big sob, all 4 lims ive done were removed by grabbing the t stat housing, then just snapped up on it and they all came free. even the one n/a lim i took off.