I have no low end power, especially when cold. When the motor is cold, if you spray starting fluid on the passenger side of the intake manifold, it will idle up, but not when it's worn. There is also a little startup smoke, and I'm getting some pretty bad gas mileage (although that may just be the truck, it's around to city/highway). When I'm talking about low-end power, it bucks in first gear until the temp gauge gets up above 130. I'm pretty sure it's a vacuum leak at the manifold, since it will idle up with starting fluid. I haven't opened it up yet to take a look for oil residue, but do you think that this is a problem that can be fixed with a new intake gasket set and a plenum plate kit? If so, is this the right plate: http://www.apsprecision.com/billetplenum.html

Thanks guys, looking forward to hearing from you.

 

any vac leak is bad, no matter where it comes from.
the most common leak is through the engine and the belly pan. your external leak is a little different, but still bad.

that is the correct plate. you can also get one from Hughes Engines.
be sure and get new intake bolts, as they are not reusable.

 

Never heard of a belly pan gasket before. Where would that be? On the intake, right?

 

bottom side of the intake. You can't see it till ya pull it off. Gee, wasn't THAT a great idea? [/sarcasm]

 

when u pull the intake keg off, flip it over and there it is. a plate held in place by a bunch of bolts right on the bottom of the intake, very poor design, i would do the keg mod while in there, just for better air flow

 

Oh...so belly gasket is also the plenum plate gasket...gotcha. I'm gonna replace it with an aftermarket part.

 

Conversation from Dodge development engineering session -

Joe - hey, lets redesign the old 318/360 into a fuel injected version, and squeeze about 10 more years out of that sucker.

Tom - ok. so how can we **** it up ?

Joe - well lets see... we need an aluminum plenum, so let's bolt a 19 cent sheet metal plate on the bottom. hey - that'll be funny as hell, it'll leak like a bitch and the customer will have to bring it in for major service every 12 months.

Tom- wow joe, you're a ****ing genius. big bonus for you, man.

 

Smoke any hemp lately dhvaughan? lmao

 

do ya'll think it's possible that the intake manifold is cracked?

 

very unlikely.