308 GTSi Stuck Intakes | FerrariChat
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308 GTSi Stuck Intakes

Discussion in '308/328' started by chipkent, Nov 13, 2009.

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  1. chipkent

    chipkent Karting

    Jul 16, 2009
    115
    #1 chipkent, Nov 13, 2009
    I'm in the middle of tearing down the engine for my 308 GTSi and am having a problem with stuck intakes. I've got all the nuts off, but the intakes are fighting me. They have a little blue squeeze out so I don't know if they are siliconed in or what. Hits with a rubber mallet have managed to loosen the rear manifold enough to rock slightly, but it won't come out. The front manifold won't budge. I don't want to beat on them too hard because I'm afraid that I'll crack one. What techniques should I try to get these out?
     
  2. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,875
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    #2 mike996, Nov 13, 2009
    If you see the squeeze-out, some crappy mechanic has done the "glue 'em in with silicone" thing. Silicone is a great product but is BADLY misused most of the time.

    Using a feeler gauge to "saw" through the stuff usually works pretty well. If there is clearance to work it, some thin wire like a guitar high E string works very well. After you're done be sure you get all that cr@p out of everything. I really HATE the way many folks use this excellent stuff. I've overhauled heat exchangers in boat engines that were so obstructed with silicone squeeze out they would barely function. I have also repaired engines that were destroyed due to squeeze out obstructing oil passages.
     
  3. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
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    Cliff
    #3 CliffBeer, Nov 13, 2009
    Ditto Mike. +1.

    Whenever I see an engine with RTV/silicone squeezed out of the various gaskets I just know I'm in for a series of hack prior "repairs".....
     
  4. chipkent

    chipkent Karting

    Jul 16, 2009
    115
    #4 chipkent, Nov 13, 2009
    The feeler gauge worked great for the intake I could wiggle plus the water pump. The intake that wont wiggle was too tight to get the feeler gauge into it. Any ideas for my problem intake?

    I'm tearing down the engine to deal with all of the problems introduced by the PO's hack mechanics. The electrical system was much worse than the engine. It is a euro spec car, and the mechanic "fixed" the car by putting the american spec relays in it.
     
  5. chipkent

    chipkent Karting

    Jul 16, 2009
    115
    #5 chipkent, Nov 13, 2009
    If it makes any difference, the goo on the problem intake is white while the one I got off was blue. I suspect they are both silicone, but I wanted to throw that out in case there was a period when something really nasty was used on these cars.
     
  6. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
    Full Name:
    Cliff
    #6 CliffBeer, Nov 14, 2009
    Chip, if you can't get anything mechanical to (sympathetically) free the bond, such as piano wire or a feeler gauge, you might try Brake Cleaner - it's a pretty strong solvent for silicone type sealants and won't harm the metals in the area (but keep it off any adjacent rubber parts). Just an idea.
     
  7. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,814
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    #7 miketuason, Nov 14, 2009
    Remember if you see anything squeezed out, more likely it also squeezed in,
     
  8. chipkent

    chipkent Karting

    Jul 16, 2009
    115
    #8 chipkent, Nov 14, 2009
    Success! I had to use a combination of the techniques. I'd soak the edges of the gasket in brake cleaner, hammer to loosen, saw with the feeler gauges, and repeat. It look 80 minutes, but nothing is broken.

    I hope this doesn't foreshadow bad things when I go to pull the heads.

    Thanks for the help.
     

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