I want to repaint the used motor I just bought. It's a 1996 5.8L 351W


My question is: How do I remove the fuel injectors from the intake so I can repaint it? Does it take a special tool?

 

The injectors are held in between the fuel rail and manifold, sealed with O rings on each end. You should be able to remove the bolts holding down the fuel rail and just pull it off of the injectors, then pull the injectors out of the manifold. Of course, pull the electrical connectors off the injectors first. You might want to get replacement O rings for the injectors if they're really old or hardened.

 

First vacuum as much dirt off the lower intake as possible, then spray some WD40 around the bottom of the injectors, remove the 4 bolts securing the fuel rail to the lower manifold and gently pry up on the rail, the injectors will either come off with it or the rail will detatch from the injectors at the top. With that out of the way remove any remaining injectors by wiggling and applying more lube, corrosion and dirt may make some of them stubborn to remove. The lower portion of the intake manifold isn't painted from the factory, degrease it and sand or bead blast it to really clean it up, and use a small wire wheel on a dremmel to clean up the injector bores which will make reinstalling them much easier. Apply some petrolium jelly to the injector 0-rings to make reassembly real easy.

 

Thanks for the advise. My motor is out of my truck right now. Intake is off too. I removed the injectors today with no problem at all. Cleaning and painting the intake while I have it off the motor. Will get some new O-rings this week.

 

You can dip the injector O rings in brake fluid to lube them before installing on the injectors and plugging them into the intake bores.

 

Brake fluid is pretty nasty stuff. I would recommend using engine oil to lube the O-rings ... not sure of their compatibility with brake fluid.

 

Nasty stuff ? Really ???? I've used it for years to lube o rings on 1850 Holley balance tubes. And to lube the injector rings. Nothing nasty about it. You're not pouring gallons into the intake tract so there's nothing to worry about there. It's the perfect medium to lube O rings, that's what it was made for to begin with.

 

Maybe O rings made to seal against fuel leaks are impervious to brake fluid, but the stuff will eat through paint in no time. As an alcohol, it does have solvent properties, be careful what you spill it on.

 

No paint to spill it on, on a 5.8 EFI intake. However I did paint one black and then lubed and installed the injectors using brake fluid. The paint was still there when I sold the truck it was in a year later.