Inlet manifold question

[SWE11L]

I'm going to replace my inlet manifold gaskets this weekend, I've never attempted this before but I am confident I can do it. However I not quite sure about some of the other gaskets/ seals that came in the pack, apart from the obvious, and what I think is a plenum chamber seal, can someone tell me what exactly the other seals are for in the photo I've attatched? ( the ones in the middle) Will the old ones be clearly visable once I've removed the manifold?

Cheers.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The O ring looking things are the seals on the lower plenum to the manifold. Once you get it apart it is pretty straight forward.

[elmaso]

the middle ones are to the plenum, and the other 4 straight ones sit on the block, there very visible, unless your bay is rooted dirty lol it'll be best to get some O rings for the inlet and outlet pipes, a fuel line removal tool will make it go quicker too.

[cander24]

From L to R.
* Inlet manifold to head
* Plenum chamber to inlet manifold
* Front and rear of inlet manifold to block (since you've got a vs you will need to use the bottom pair without the black plastic locating studs which are used on vt series 2 onwards)
* Plenum lid

As above there's 2 more that should be in a VRS gasket kit, if not i'd recommend you get them from holden. About $2 each. This is the two o ring seals for the heater pipes. Should be a black one approx 20mm dia and an orange one approx 15mm dia

[SWE11L]

Cheers, thanks for the tips on the other two Orings, repco have them u reckon? just easier for me to go there than holden.

[cander24]

Quite possibly. Though they may only sell them as part of a complete vrs gasket kit?? They can be bought individually from holden if repco is a no go.
Cheers

[SWE11L]

Quite possibly. Though they may only sell them as part of a complete vrs gasket kit?? They can be bought individually from holden if repco is a no go.
Cheers

I actually got this pack from repco, maybe I scored a dud pack! Ill look into it tomorrow.

[James39]

I actually got this pack from repco, maybe I scored a dud pack! Ill look into it tomorrow.

How much was the kit?

[SWE11L]

How much was the kit?

Kit was $65.

[FstStig]

Doesn't sound right as when I bought my Manifold gaskets they were $70, no kit. Also remember you will need a new oil filter and oil when doing a manifold change as coolant gets into you're oil galleries.

[SWE11L]

Doesn't sound right as when I bought my Manifold gaskets they were $70, no kit. Also remember you will need a new oil filter and oil when doing a manifold change as coolant gets into you're oil galleries.

$65 for all the seals in the pic, that was with a 20% NRMA member discount... Cheers for the oil change tip. Is coolant mixing in with your oil avoidable?

[FstStig]

Ah ok, that would make sense then with the discount. Unfortunately no it's not avoidable as when you lift you're manifold up it still has coolant in it which spills into the oil galleries. You will be right with just a simple oil change

[SWE11L]

Yeah I probably should've said that to begin with!

I just did an oil change a few weeks ago

[SWE11L]

So halfway through, removed old valley gaskets, they practically fell apart once i removed them! By the looks of things ive had heaps of oil pissing out all over the place.
The trouble i have now is where these two little heater hose Orings go (Holden actually charged me $14 for the two of them!) Could someone tell me where exactly or show me in a photo?? Cheers

P.S What are people's opinion on the state of my injectors?

[cander24]

Those gaskets are well and truly passed there use by...
The smaller orange o ring goes on the end of the heater pipe - The one that runs behind the L shaped alloy tensioner pulley bracket and pushes into the inlet manifold near the thermostat.
The other larger black o ring goes onto the other alloy heater pipe below the other one and pushes into the front timing cover. Clean thoroughly and use plenty of vaseline or similar.
Considering their age, a little burning on the injector pintle cover like that is normal. Just want to clean thoroughly before reinstalling and ensure the injector o rings are still servicable i.e. not too hard/cracked and shrunk etc. Use vaseline here once again

[SWE11L]

cheers man, i was hoping u'd be online!

[James39]

I would replace the O-Rings on the injectors. be careful removing the o-rings as you might break the pintle covers.

[SWE11L]

I would replace the O-Rings on the injectors.

i'm most likely going to replace the injectors soon anyway...

[James39]

i'm most likely going to replace the injectors soon anyway...

Well since you have them out it would be wise to do so, otherwise you may have leaks and then a fire.

[SWE11L]

Holy Shit! I can't begin to describe what an improvement this gasket change has done for my car! I was obviously losing an incredible amount of power and vacuum with those old seals. I def recommend doing this if your car is sluggish/ leaking oil etc.. and if you have never done it or there is no record of it being done, simply amazing!
During this exercise I also cleaned the throttle body out, plenum, changed rocker cover gaskets, flushed the radiator replaced both hoses, all heater hoses, heater tap, thermostat, radiator cap and heater core. Oil and filter change.
No more rough idle either, I swear you could play a game of jenga on top of the engine!!

[SWE11L]

Some photo's from the job.

I'm sure all the sludge I scraped out of the manifold was doing wonders.

Heater core is obviously rooted.

[James39]

Going to do mine soon... Would brown sludge on the radiator cap indicate a problem with the inlet manifold gaskets?

[FstStig]

Most likely as it would be letting oil into you're water galleries. If you need a hand man I have done these many of times so if you need a hand let me know.

[SWE11L]

I found the hardest bit was trying to put the manifold back in and trying to keep the gaskets in place because the injector wiring kept getting in the way, that was the only F around for me, it actually is a very straight forward job, just need patience and a good memory!

[James39]

Most likely as it would be letting oil into you're water galleries. If you need a hand man I have done these many of times so if you need a hand let me know.

Thanks for the offer, but I am going to be brave and see how it goes. Also going to do the trans as well.. so this is going to be fun

I found the hardest bit was trying to put the manifold back in and trying to keep the gaskets in place because the injector wiring kept getting in the way, that was the only F around for me, it actually is a very straight forward job, just need patience and a good memory!

Thanks for the tip. I might use some cable ties to keep them away while doing the job... I am going to need the bolt-up sequence and torque setting which i think is 18nm?