Used PI intake what to check for

J

jay99914

Member

Apr 3, 2019

21

2

13

USA

Oct 29, 2024

#1

• Oct 29, 2024

• #1

I found a used PI intake for a decent price on FB and I am going to grab it this weekend and it has the aluminum cross over. The person "said" it was working fine on a 2000 mustang GT which the bottom end gave out on him. What are the areas to check for other than cracks in the cross over, and where the heater hose connects to the nipple in the back? Just curious and I am trying to avoid buying something that leaks on me.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,252

17,937

224

Massachusetts

Oct 30, 2024

#2

• Oct 30, 2024

• #2

Cracks in the plastic coolant crossover, and the heater hose connection are the two main areas to pay attention to. The cracks in the coolant crossover would be very small. Take a brht light and inspect it carefully. I've looked through a bunch at the local boneyards lately and most of not all the oriinal intakes (off crown vics where were late 2000's) had a small crack. I won't even bother pulling them not to look unless it's obvious the intake was replaced rather recently with a new Ford unit.

 

J

jay99914

Member

Apr 3, 2019

21

2

13

USA

Oct 30, 2024

#3

• Oct 30, 2024

• #3

Yeah I will take a light with me for sure. When you say plastic crossover, do you mean on the underside of the aluminum part where it bolts to the plastic? This is a picture of the intake here and I can clearly see the back connection is 100% plastic, but the front this is not 100% aluminum from right to left where the fluid runs? I will inspect that as well but I am just trying to get a good picture of my focal points.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,252

17,937

224

Massachusetts

Oct 30, 2024

#4

• Oct 30, 2024

• #4

The crossover is aluminum, but if you flip the intake over you’ll see it mounts to a small thin bit of plastic




Inspect the coolant passages closely here, because you’ll often see small cracks like this. This is an intake I pulled at the junkyard off a crown Vic. Didn’t even notice the crack til I got home.




It might work for a short while, but this is essentially the start of a failure. It will fail

 

J

jay99914

Member

Apr 3, 2019

21

2

13

USA

Oct 30, 2024

#5

• Oct 30, 2024

• #5

Great pictures. Now I know exactly what to look for. Thanks a bunch.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,252

17,937

224

Massachusetts

Oct 31, 2024

#6

• Oct 31, 2024

• #6

Check all the ports. Even the coolant ports at the rear that do not pass coolant anywhere

 

Reactions: stormsedge

J

jay99914

Member

Apr 3, 2019

21

2

13

USA

Nov 4, 2024

#7

• Nov 4, 2024

• #7

There ended up being cracks in the water jacket area so I did not take it. Looks like I will just have to go with Fords new inefficient PI intake for my 03 swap. I think it is safer to go with something newer that will not leak and lose a couple HP as opposed to something that may leak in a couple months. If I cant hit my HP mark I can just add some more boost to make up the minimal loss.