Did you have all the plugs out when doing the compression test or one at a time?

 

Thanks for the thread about the plenum repair. I have been having all of these issues but just chalked most of it up to the auto tranny and old truck. Aside from the symptoms mentioned above, could this also cause an overheating issue? I replaced my water pump one year ago, thermostat within the last six months and had the cooling system flushed but to no avail, the truck still overheats. Now, while driving in the city I do drive with the O/D turned off, always turn it on for the highway. It overheats way faster with the A/C on of course... Any suggestions aside from replacing the heater core and radiator?

 

Are you losing any coolant?

 

Maybe clogged radiator, bad fan clutch, radiator cap?

 

Not losing coolant unless I drive it hot and shut it off while it's boiling. Radiator cap is good, fan clutch I think is good, just had a coolant flush done. I have been smelling coolant when it gets hot lately but no leaks under the carpets or in the vents.

 

So Im just about ready to start putting it back together. My question is what does everyone recommend in regards to the gaskets and RTV. What gaskets, if any, should I use RTV on? I have a tube of permatex red rtv, should I pick up something else? Should I use any threadlocker or anti seize on any of the bolts?
One last question, in the countless pages I have read it seems the bolts to hold the plenum in are too long. Because of a tight budget I have decided to buy an intake gasket kit from the local auto parts store that includes all the gaskets and fresh new bolts. If the new bolts I got for the plenum are the same length should I grab some small washers for all the bolts?

 

Fel-Pro gaskets.

Little bit of RTV around coolant passages. Not much though. You aren't torquing things that tight.

I used blue threadlocker on the plenum bolts, and that is the ONLY place I used thread locker.

If the bolts are the same length, some washers will solve that.

 

...and don't forget to put a medium sized dab of RTV in the 4 corners where the rubber gaskets meet the the fiber gaskets on the heads.

 

Oh, yep. Can't forget that one. Thanks.

 

Guys what inch lbs torque wrench should I buy... Craftsman seem to only sell 25-200 inch lbs torque wrenchs, and same with harbor freight.. harbor freight does sell a 0-60 inch lbs wrench but dont the bolts need to be torqued up to 72 inch lbs in the end.. ??

So im wondering would the craftsman be ok to use ? Meaning torquing the bolts in sequence starting at 25 inch lbs vs 12 inchs lbs at a time ? I really need a answer for this.. Because no one seems to ever answer me on any forums when it comes to torque wrenchs when working on the plenum pan... I also cannot afford $$$ wrenchs.. I only make $8.60 an hour so i need to go with something that will work and is affordable