So went to replace radiator today and ended up diving into a plenum gasket job. Thanks to the info on this forum we made it pretty far into the process of getting to the plenum gasket. How many bolt hold on the intake manifold? We took off 11, but it seems there must be one more in the back, is in by the distributor? Anyway, gonna continue tomorrow, is it ok to just replace the plenum gasket or should I order the hughes kit and finish the job later?

Oh and here is what I see on the inside of the intake manifold, that's not good, right?

 

Oil in the belly pan does not mean a blown gasket. It might mean a neglected PCV valve replacement. Either way, if you've got the manifold off you might as well do a belly pan replacement, APS, Hughes, whatever.

 

I don't have the manifold off yet, there must be another bolt way in the back under the distributor cap? Where is the best place to get a belly pan? Or any place for that matter, I only can find it a hughes and that will need to be shipped. Would Napa stock something like that or advance auto, but just have a different term for it??

 

What is that crack ?

 

Think that's just a shadow.

 

there are 12 bolts that hold the intake manifold down, they are all directly across from one another in pairs. There is one toward the outside of the distributor.

 

The crack with the jagged edges on the top middle. With the big gap. That doesnt look like a shadow to me the egdes are too round and shiny to be a shadow. I think your intake manifold on the bottom is split. I think this is where the oil is coming from. Its splatting oil from the inside of the intake vally on the engine under the plenum pan and into your intake manifold. I bet you that you need a new plenum pan. I would check that thing again and take another picture or two and post them here. Look at the oil pattern and look where that crack is. Its not coming from the gasket its coming from your crack.

And if that is a shadow im sorry for driving you on a wild goose chase, but man that doesnt look like a shadow too me. Its too well defined in shape.


Also to answer your question there are 12 bolts for the intake manifold, and there are 15 bolts for the plenum pan. You should get a Haynes manual for your dodge truck. I have one for my Jeep and i wish i could scan you the pictures, but for the 5.9 engine there is 12 bolts. 6 on each side.





This a picture of inside mine, and i never saw any shadows like that... I honestly belive yours is cracked.

 

that would be the intake runner

 

Explain ?