freeze damage - need new intake manifold

[timbutler]

I have a '97 Super Sport, and had some freeze damage last year.
(tried to extend season too far obviously)

I had a couple of lamps on the block, and that appears to have had
no damage. I initially thought it was just one exhaust manifold
that cracked, but after replacing that and firing it up, found that
the intake manifold had cracked around the thermostat housing.
(it also pushed out the bronze plugs in both heads.)

I drained it all again and ran it for a few seconds to make sure
there was no water in the cylinders, then pulled the plugs and
sprayed a bunch of oil in the cylinders. It still turns freely
by hand.

My current thinking is to replace the lower intake manifold, put
in new bronze plugs, and see if everything is ok. Is there anything
else I should look for, or anything that is certain to be damaged?

skidim doesn't show a manifold on their site, nor have I found
the exact part online elsewhere. I emailed skidim to see if they
have it, and how much it would be. I did find an offroad-only
aluminum lower manifold, but didn't know if it was an exact fit,
and if the aluminum would be a problem w/ galvanic corrosion.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...tKeyField=8764

Any insight or info based on similiar experience is welcome.

thanks,
tim

[surroundsound64]

RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

Man, sorry to hear that.

How cold did it get and for how long?

[timbutler]

Re: RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

How cold did it get and for how long?

I don't know. Colder than the forecast, which
was for right around the freezing point. It was
more than a year ago (Oct. 2005), so I don't
recall exactly.

New baby kept me from dealing with it then, so now
I'm hoping to get it squared away for this coming
season. I did get a price on a stock cast iron manifold,
about $600. Has anyone replaced the stock lower
intake manifold with something different? I'm
tempted to try the ford one I link in my original
post, but I'm going to try and measure the stock
intake to make sure that one isn't too tall.

I replaced all of the drain plugs with valves,
so I won't be tempted to push my luck again in the
future.

[Andrew]

RE: Re: RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

just made me realize that i never winterized mine........ not that it has been cold enough or anything

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

-18* F. here the other night. I winterize safe to -30* or so, and I still get nervous every time it gets below 0.

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

What ford engine do you have? Is the GT-40, or the carb engine. If my memory serves me right, the engine options in 1997 were a Carburreted 351 Ford, a Throttle body fuel injected 350 GM motor, and the GT-40. How big were the lights, and are you sure they did not get turned off when your engine froze? I am curious how it got cold enough to freeze the block even with heat on. I want to know, so I can keep my boat protected, and I do not give bad advise to other people.

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: freeze damage - need new intake manifold

Sorry, I did not really answer your questions. Galvanic corrosion could be a problem, but I do believe some other boat companies have put raw water cooled cast iron engines with aluminium heads out there. If you ran only in fresh water, it might work for quite a while, but it could end up being a problem. The ZR6 motor has a closed cooling system for this reason. If you run in salt water, I would worry about using aluminium and cast iron parts together.
Ford used the multiport fuel injected 351 (5.8l) in thier pickups fairly recently, (early or mid 1990's), you might be able to find a lower intake manifold from a auto recycling center. (that's PC for junkyard)

[timbutler]

When I winterize, I drain all the water, so in theory it doesn't
matter how cold it gets. We'll see -10 F rarely, and lower
isn't impossible though is unusual.

It is an EFI GT-40, the 310HP model.

I had two 75 reflector lamps pointed at the engine.
The block appears to have not frozen. When I did go
out to drain it, the block drained ok, but I found that the
rubber water lines were frozen. And as I found out
eventually, so were the intake and exhaust manifolds.

[core-rider]

timbutler, to answer your question about the aluminum intake, your factory manifold is made of aluminum. The intake you have listed about is not it though. DO NOT BUY THAT INTAKE! The intake you have listed above is for a 302 CID engine, and you need one for a 351 CID. The problem is Ford quit making them for the 351. I saw one sell on ebay last week for somewhere around $350. I did another search and there weren't anymore, but I may be able to find one for you. Give me a little bit and see if I can locate one.

[core-rider]

I found one on ebay, but it is pricey.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/351-w...spagenameZWDVW

[core-rider]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GT-40...QQcmdZViewItem

Found one more that's not as expensive.

[timbutler]

timbutler, to answer your question about the aluminum intake, your factory manifold is made of aluminum.

The upper looks like it is, but the lower is cast iron.

The intake you have listed about is not it though. DO NOT BUY THAT INTAKE! The intake you have listed above is for a 302 CID engine

I couldn't tell if it was for the 302. It didn't appear to
say if it was or not. thanks.

Thanks for the ebay items. I'll watch those. Failing that,
I'll buy the one from skidim.com for $600.

thanks again,
tim

[core-rider]

Okay tim, I hava a guy in Texas that offered one up for 275 + shipping as well. Everything I will find is going to be aluminum though. If your interested in the manifold in Texas I will get the guys info for you.

[timbutler]

core-rider, thanks for the info and pointers on the eBay auctions. I bid up the second one to $260 or so but still missed out. I'll keep an eye out for more.

If I don't find one by the end of the month, I'm going to go ahead and order the cast iron one. Thanks for the assistance.

[core-rider]

No problem tim, like I said the aluminum intake was discontinued so now any hotrodder out there pays a premium to get one. Not to mention people like me with Lightnings that had one from the factory and might want a replacement. Unfortunately alot of parts are becoming obsolete for the older pushrod engines. Good luck with the hunting.