Intake Q, Leak, PI or NPI?

Blacksahara · Dec 12, 2008

I did a few searchs on the Forum, but still have a couple Q's.

I have a 2000 GT w/ 144,000mi on 'er. She's be good to me, never a problem until now. I have a coolant leak which just started dripping down from the bellhousing area. Looking around the T-stat, it looks as though it's leaking from the intake gasket, but I don't see a crack....should I? Coolant is laying down in the intake valley behind the alternator......I don't think it's the heater hose that routes through this space since it's wet up around the t-stat and the whole way back around all the fuel injectors....Just the drivers side, the pass side is dry.

Anyway, this leads me to believe it's a cracked intake. My next question is what is PI vs NPI, and which one do I want for my year GT? Where have you guys ordered them from with good results? I guess I need gaskets as well, anything else other than intake and gaskets?

Thanks in advance.

Big Show 96 · Dec 12, 2008

Blacksahara said:
I did a few searchs on the Forum, but still have a couple Q's.

I have a 2000 GT w/ 144,000mi on 'er. She's be good to me, never a problem until now. I have a coolant leak which just started dripping down from the bellhousing area. Looking around the T-stat, it looks as though it's leaking from the intake gasket, but I don't see a crack....should I? Coolant is laying down in the intake valley behind the alternator......I don't think it's the heater hose that routes through this space since it's wet up around the t-stat and the whole way back around all the fuel injectors....Just the drivers side, the pass side is dry.

Anyway, this leads me to believe it's a cracked intake. My next question is what is PI vs NPI, and which one do I want for my year GT? Where have you guys ordered them from with good results? I guess I need gaskets as well, anything else other than intake and gaskets?

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like its time for a new intake. I shopped around for a good price & had Jegs price match it. Jegs intakes have the updated crossover piece on their ( PI )intakes. I paid 175.00 for mine. I reused my intake gaskets & had no leaks. Just inspect them good & make sure the seating surface is clean & the gasket isn't ripped anywhere. NPI is stock on the 96-98 cars, PI is stock on the 99-04's.

COramprat · Dec 12, 2008

The intake and gaskets are all you will need. If you have basic hand tools it is a pretty easy job.

isjoining · Dec 12, 2008

new or modify the alternator bracket as well, original one will NOT work.

Blacksahara · Dec 13, 2008

Great! Thanks for all the input.
Are they any recommended mfgs., and any to stay away from?

PAzYearazzUP · Dec 13, 2008

I am going to assume you are assuming it is a gasket leak. Maybe it is a leak from the hose or other water related component. So, the real question is, did you wipe up the leak on the engine, take a pressure test at the radiator cap is load the coolant system and watch where the leak is coming from? You change all the gaskets but the water connector that may be leaking instead.

Bottom line, I would not guess at water leaks short of obvious ones like a water pump coolant hole, say. You need to pressurize the block to pinpoint the culprit. I can't tell you how many times I was incorrect on the diagnostics is I am not that good is trust me.

califsp · Dec 13, 2008

Here's the step-by-step instructions. Please don't use the old gaskets. Buy new ones.

http://www.professional-products.com/PDF Instructions/54060 Instructions.pdf

Blacksahara · Dec 15, 2008

PAzYearazzUP said:
I am going to assume you are assuming it is a gasket leak. Maybe it is a leak from the hose or other water related component. So, the real question is, did you wipe up the leak on the engine, take a pressure test at the radiator cap is load the coolant system and watch where the leak is coming from? You change all the gaskets but the water connector that may be leaking instead.

Bottom line, I would not guess at water leaks short of obvious ones like a water pump coolant hole, say. You need to pressurize the block to pinpoint the culprit. I can't tell you how many times I was incorrect on the diagnostics is I am not that good is trust me.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm considering the pressure test.

I determined that it's not the water pump, heater line that comes off the pump and routes in the intake valley, hose and connector to the t-stat housing.

The area where the plastic t-stat/intake meets the head appears to be the culprit, although I don't see a visible crack.....should I if this is a common thing? Looks as though it's coming out of this area and down into the intake valley, then routing towards the back of the engine and down the bellhousing. It's a very minor leak, as I'm not losing a lot of fluid, YET. Looking at the Haynes manual, the gasket only surrounds the intake passages, not around the the coolant passage, so am assuming the gasket is good....no indication of water in the oil and runs the same. So, the only thing I can assume is it's the intake itself.

Blacksahara · Dec 15, 2008

califsp said:
Here's the step-by-step instructions. Please don't use the old gaskets. Buy new ones.

http://www.professional-products.com/PDF Instructions/54060 Instructions.pdf

Great, thanks!

Blacksahara · Dec 15, 2008

Any recommendation on intake manufacturer?

Should I just go OEM? I'm thinking, might as well make it a performance upgrade while I'm at it.

eliteJAE · Dec 15, 2008

i mean there's certainly some different performance intakes out there, but they run pretty expensive compared to buying a replacement PI intake with the updated crossover

what mods do you have on your car? maybe you can benefit more from an aftermarket

some intakes to look at are the Typhoon intake from Profesional Products, Track Heat Intake by Trickflow, and the P-51 intake by i dont remember who lol

This is the stock P.I. replacement which is just fine for minimal mods:

4.6L Performance Improvement (PI) Intake Manifold at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

Jbauer · Dec 15, 2008

They're aren't any performance intakes that are worth a crap, they pretty much all suck unless you've got a modded engine..If you've got Cams or a built engine you'd benefit from one.
You'll be alright with any PI intake you buy anywhere..just make sure it's not made in China,

Blacksahara · Dec 16, 2008

Cool, thanks for the input. I'll stick with the standard PI since I don't have any mods to speak of.

Intake Q, Leak, PI or NPI?

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