Alright, I know its been asked a million times. I've looked at the end all thread. Checked everything, then to be sure did the vacuum test. Sure enough plenum is shot. I ordered the kit off hughes but I had one simple question. I'm 17, and im pretty good at following directions and figuring things out. If I make sure to have everything I need before I start this job, how long should I expect this job to take me? I just want to make sure I set aside enough time because ill be stranded if I dont get my truck finished. My parents arent around a lot and it leaves me to do things on my own.

 

Ooo, make REAL sure you have EVERYTHING you are gonna need then..... including broken bolt extraction tools, just in case....... If you take your time, and you should..... clean everything REALLY well throughout the process, 4 to 6 hours. Figger it will take you most of a weekend though.....

If you DO break off any intake bolts, first thing to try is DROWN the offending bolt in some variety of penetrant, PB blaster is what I use, but, there is better stuff out there. PB works fine for me..... Grab the broken bolt with vice grips, a nice TIGHT grip, put some pressure on it to remove it, and tap on the bolt with a hammer. The vibrations help the penetrant penetrate.... and it should come loose. If you break on off such that you can't get a grip on it, gonna have to drill it out. Hitting the four corner intake bolts with PB a couple times a day or so BEFORE you do the job should help. Try and get the four corner bolts from UNDERNEATH. The bolt holes actually go all the way thru the head, and into open air. (so they can rust up nicely, and break off......)

 

Main reason im asking this is because I gotta get it done all in one day. I was hoping to get it done this sunday or next sunday, I never have to work on sunday. But my truck is the only way I get around so its gotta all get done in one day or im screwed. I have plenty of tools to work with and Im gonna double check to make sure i have all the parts including a new t-stat since im gonna get an SCT when i get this straightned out

 

In short, leave 2 days just in case. I started thursday night after work to start tear down. I spent most of the next day finishing tear down, cleaning the block, the intake, etc.. I made sure everything was very very clean. My pan was delivered around 5pm friday night, and that was perfect timing. Once the pan was bolted, I was good to go. I had it all re-assembled fri night, and waited for the RTV to dry till the next morning before filling her up with oil etc.

 

Take pictures before, during and after you've torn it down, and from various angles.. keep a running log of every significant step.. label everything as you pull it part..

Tear down will take upwards of two or three hours the first time you do it..

Get one of those plastic scraper razors with extras.. after you put a towel in/over the lifter valley and shove clean shop towels in the head ports, spray the mating surfaces with pb blaster and scrape them clean.. do the same thing to the intake manifold.. if your parents aren't around (especially mum) hit the entire intake manifold with a paste made of powdered detergent and water, and stick it in the dishwasher..

Make sure its clean... Put your rails back on.. put your objectors on with new orings.. stage it..

Take four of your best condition old bolts and saw the heads off of them.. thread them in the corner holes..

Put your new cap and rotor on..

Take some copper rtv, and put a nice bead in the across the cross block mating surfaces and allow it to set a while..

Wipe the mating surface of the heads with alcohol, and let it dry.. put the finest of beads of rtv around the coolant passages, and allow it to set for five or ten minutes.. put the intake gasket on the mating surface.. rtv the corners, and put the cross block towel gaskets on..

Take the copper rtv and put the finest of beads around the coolant ports of the coolant passages.. allow it to set five or ten minutes. Put the manifold directly down over the headless bolts... Put your bolts in and start your torquing sequence..

Reverse order of tear down..

Fill radiator, fill oil, wire it up, clean tb if you already haven't, double check everything, triple check everything.. check it again.. turn the key.. let it warm.. kill it, check fluids.. fire it up, drive it like you stole it.

First time? 6~10 hours..

Rock on yo..

Good time to do the timing belt (dont read 71's thread and get scared)..

Good time to do the water pump..

 

God, I hate this phone sometimes... Towel gaskets? Objectors? Grrrrrrrr... You fellas are smarter than a Droid.. you know what it meant, right?

 

And also, chasing the bolt holes is a good plan too, before reassembly.

 

That is great, actually made me laugh. That seems like something YOU would do too!

 

Yeah thats a sure fire way to get a whoopin in my house. mess up moms dishwasher/washer/oven/fridge/etc and shell mess up your head!

 

Which is why he said to do it when shes NOT home.
Just make sure you're not gonna mess up the rack.