Replacing plugs and injectors

[maximusdecimus2020]

I am going to replace injectors and plugs at the same time to avoid having to take the intake manifold off twice. I saw something the other day that recommended replacing lower intake gaskets when you do. Is there already a post on this, or can anyone tell me either way?
Thanks

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[Tim]

I believe the official procedure is to inspect them and replace if damaged. I replaced my oil cooler housing when I replaced my plugs, coils, and injectors so I also had the lower intake off. Because I was so deep into it I had replacement gaskets on hand. I ended up replacing my lower intake gaskets but I reused my upper intake gaskets. YMMV

Paging @Stan H, @WILDHOBO and @Maximus Gladius as they also have experience with this.

 

[maximusdecimus2020]

I believe the official procedure is to inspect them and replace if damaged. I replaced my oil cooler housing when I replaced my plugs, coils, and injectors so I also had the lower intake off. Because I was so deep into it I had replacement gaskets on hand. I ended up replacing my lower intake gaskets but I reused my upper intake gaskets. YMMV

Paging @Stan H, @WILDHOBO and @Maximus Gladius as they also have experience with this.

Thanks for the info!

 

[WILDHOBO]

I believe the official procedure is to inspect them and replace if damaged. I replaced my oil cooler housing when I replaced my plugs, coils, and injectors so I also had the lower intake off. Because I was so deep into it I had replacement gaskets on hand. I ended up replacing my lower intake gaskets but I reused my upper intake gaskets. YMMV

Paging @Stan H, @WILDHOBO and @Maximus Gladius as they also have experience with this.

I’ve never pulled my lower intake, but have had the upper off twice or three times. I’m on original gaskets and they looked perfect last time. But I super carefully protected that area and the gaskets with easy remove painters tape while I worked.

 

[bmpcamry09]

I've had probably 100+ of these intakes off over the years from my tech days plus I still work on these a lot on the side and at least half of them I didn't replace the lowers and I don't think I replaced uppers on any of them. But they are cheap enough where on my personal vehicle I would just go ahead and do them.

 

[Stan H]

I am going to replace injectors and plugs at the same time to avoid having to take the intake manifold off twice. I saw something the other day that recommended replacing lower intake gaskets when you do. Is there already a post on this, or can anyone tell me either way?
Thanks

Just look my name up it will come up in the what did you do to you gladiator thread .
No you do NOT have to remove the lower intake the lower intake is where the injector resides and what the fuel rail bolts too. JUST the upper plenum. the fuel rail has a plastic clip that you undo and then it comes off for the fuel supply a small amount of fuel comes out dont sweat it dap it up if you want . The 2 fuel rails are plastic and tied together with a plastic fuel line of a hard type ..** undo the 4 small 8mm bolts and then gently pull up on the fuel rail at each of the injectors at each spot it only needs to come up about ½ to ¾ of an inch top of the injector and bottom of injector have a O-ring. After gently pulling up one side go to the other side pull each of the other 3 one at a time ( you may have and injector pull out from the bottom and stick in fuel rail dont worry about that ** you have a picture** . Now the fuel rail can be completely set aside. ** Before starting to pull injectors remove the upper plenum gaskets and
Be sure and use wide 2.5-3" painters tape to cover the openenings in the bottom intake if one of the rings takes a hop skip and a jump and goes down the hole your in for more work.
Now each of the injectors has a electric plug . Only pull 1 plug at a time. That way you dont cross them up . pull that injector out a small dab of O-ring lubricant or petroleum jelly on the oring that will already be on the new injector slip it in and place it in the same orientation as the old one. They do Not have bolts in the injectors the fuel rail bolts hold them down . The orientation is important because some are slightly clocked to allow for missing other plugs.
**Take a Picture *** before starting this entire process. Once all 6 have been placed in the bottom intake then place the fuel rail back on use a tiny amount of lube on the upper o-ring as well this makes the fuel rail slide down Sooooo freaking easy. Now put the 4 bolts back in the fuel rail and hook the fuel line back up . . Done.

 

[Stan H]

I am going to replace injectors and plugs at the same time to avoid having to take the intake manifold off twice. I saw something the other day that recommended replacing lower intake gaskets when you do. Is there already a post on this, or can anyone tell me either way?
Thanks

DM me if you need more help

 

[Stan H]

DM me if you need more help

The upper plenum seals are super cheap like 15 bucks from @AllMoparParts.com I orders plugs, injectors coil packs and plenum seals and high lift solenoid sensor seals it all came in like a week in one one box and perfectly packed . They are top shelf.
Total amount of my order was a little over $1100.00. I replaced my coils packs because it was 130,000 miles and I didnt want to have to get in there again.
@WILDHOBO told me use a ¼ ratchet and it is just hand snug . The torque for those bolts is embossed right on top the back of the plenum. 9nm this is very small amount equal to hand snugness ..

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I believe the official procedure is to inspect them and replace if damaged. I replaced my oil cooler housing when I replaced my plugs, coils, and injectors so I also had the lower intake off. Because I was so deep into it I had replacement gaskets on hand. I ended up replacing my lower intake gaskets but I reused my upper intake gaskets. YMMV

Paging @Stan H, @WILDHOBO and @Maximus Gladius as they also have experience with this.

I’ve only removed the upper plenum once. I don’t even feel qualified to even comment but, I did not replace the upper seals and some months later looking around in the engine bay, I did notice oil seepage around the upper plenum edge and wished I had replaced the seals but maybe all I needed to do was retorque the long screws holding it down.

Oh well, I don’t have that truck anymore so I’ll keep that in mind for next time.

 

[Stan H]

I’ve only removed the upper plenum once. I don’t even feel qualified to even comment but, I did not replace the upper seals and some months later looking around in the engine bay, I did notice oil seepage around the upper plenum edge and wished I had replaced the seals but maybe all I needed to do was retorque the long screws holding it down.

Oh well, I don’t have that truck anymore so I’ll keep that in mind for next time.

I did replace them and they are simple to remove and replace . They have little tabs to line them up in the plenum.

 

[Stan H]

Oh @maximusdecimus2020 almost forgot there is a staraphom sound deadner that ypu will find after removing the upper plenum dont forget to put it back it goes between the lower and upper on the drivers side and is form fitted.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Oh @maximusdecimus2020 almost forgot there is a staraphom sound deadner that ypu will find after removing the upper plenum dont forget to put it back it goes between the lower and upper on the drivers side and is form fitted.

I forgot with mine. It’s still in a box in the garage.

 

[Tim]

I will add that you need to be very careful with the blue locking tab/clip that secures the fuel line to the fuel rail. Mine was super fragile and I broke it even trying to be careful. That clip is not available on it's own. I had to purchase a new fuel line to get a replacement clip.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Legit question - is there something about Gladiator fuel injectors that lend them to being pre-emptively replaced when you are screwing around in there? Are yall just doing it because the upper intake is off?

I have twenty four year old stock LS Chevy injectors that still work fine on a truck that gets run once every 6 months with old sticky 10% ethanol gas in them.

 

[Tim]

I will add that you need to be very careful with the blue locking tab/clip that secures the fuel line to the fuel rail. Mine was super fragile and I broke it even trying to be careful. That clip is not available on it's own. I had to purchase a new fuel rail to get a replacement clip.

I did it because the intake was already off. I also needed to take the fuel rail and lower intake off to get to the oil cooler/filter housing so I was in even further than if I was just replacing plugs. Admittedly, of all the preventive maintenance I've done the injectors are the one thing I didn't really need to do.

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