interchange intakes

[vrinner]

can the 84 and 86 intakes be interchanged other than fuel rail? wiring, computer and such?

[Stinger]

The throttle body location is the same for both. Of course the 84 rail is inline and the 86 is the 4 square so you change the rail along with the upper and lower intake and the dipstick tube and you should be good to go. No wiring or computer changes required.

[Patrick]

The 84 cylinder head has one fewer bolt hole that needs to be drilled and tapped when installing an 85.5/86 manifold. The EGR valve and tube needs to be swapped over as well. the 85.5-86 wiring loom has a wire for the oil level sender that does not exist on an 84-85.

[GLASSMAN]

^^^ what he said^^^

[Raven855]

I will also add that in the lower intake that the cooling fan switch is different. On the early inline manifold it is smaller and a 2 wire variety. You can pick up an adapter to mount the switch, but I don't like them. A later unit can be used but it is a single wire unit and you will have to adapt a spade connector on the early wire and run the second terminal to a ground.

[vrinner]

The reason I'm asking is that while trying to fix my 84 9W to mimick my 86 1E to "pass smog" I thought I had a simple coolant hose leak. after verifying the hose was fine I found that there was a hole in the lower intake. Pulled the intake off (first time in 28 years) and found that the lower intake was clogged beyond all heck and there was a hole through the intake.

I have a NOS intake that has the 2.3 EFI molded on the upper intake. Not sure what this is off of but somehow I ended up with one. I think I'm going to simply go the route of fixing the hole, then porting out the stock manifold.

Please note that the 84 has been sitting for probably 5+ years. Only recently have I disconnected the battery while in storage.

[Patrick]

Believe it or not, I've seen worse. Obviously the coolant temp signal on that one was compromised.

[Raven855]

I would flush that system out really well. Plug the hole and for the first flush use Simple Green PROFESSIONAL. I bought it at the local Loews before. Follow with a most excellent product from Ford VC9. This stuff is Great! Use a good quality antifreeze, I have been using the Zerox G5 lately. It meets Fords spec, contains NO silicates(Fords does) and is one of those 5 year antifreezes. Use with distilled water, or some type of demineralized water.

[vrinner]

So does anyone know of a good head shop in/around Fullerton, CA? I used to take my heads to Power Heads but I dont think they are in business anymore. I'll also be willing to send it off somewhere if needed but would prefer local.

[Patrick]

I know somebody near me (Slover), but that's 45 minutes away.

[vrinner]

I know somebody near me (Slover), but that's 45 minutes away.

45 Minutes is cool.

[Bob Holmes]

I would only take it to someone that knows something about these heads. Its not a SBC, so most won't know what to do with it.