5.0 intake plenum removal
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
5.0 intake plenum removal
I searched for the title, but couldn't find a thread to add some info to. I removed the intake plenum from a 1988 F150 - 5.0 today. I won't be responsible for my actions if I ever meet the engineering team member who thought it was a good idea to put the TORX head bolt in the middle of the inside the plenum. My hands are comparably the size of a catcher's mitt, so maneuvering the TORX 40 bit was not easy.
A standard TORX socket won't align straight, so I removed the bit from the socket and put it in a 5/16" deep well 1/4" drive socket. That was the first time. After picking the socket up with the bit inside to thread through the plenum gap, the bit fell out. After a full half hour search and resorting to my roll around magnet, I found the bit along with assorted drill shavings and a link out of an old watch band.The second time, I ran a coupla' turns of electrical tape around the bit/socket assembly on the end of a 9" extension. Thankfully, Ford didn't use Loc-Tite on that bolt.
I still like all 3 of my Ford trucks, but sometimes a brain cloud hovers over the design guys!
A standard TORX socket won't align straight, so I removed the bit from the socket and put it in a 5/16" deep well 1/4" drive socket. That was the first time. After picking the socket up with the bit inside to thread through the plenum gap, the bit fell out. After a full half hour search and resorting to my roll around magnet, I found the bit along with assorted drill shavings and a link out of an old watch band.The second time, I ran a coupla' turns of electrical tape around the bit/socket assembly on the end of a 9" extension. Thankfully, Ford didn't use Loc-Tite on that bolt.
I still like all 3 of my Ford trucks, but sometimes a brain cloud hovers over the design guys!
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh
Here's how you can get it out without any special tools- get a long 1/4 drive extension, and a 6 point 1/4" socket on the end of it. Get a T40 torx drill bit, and put it into the 1/4 socket. The 1/4" socket is small enough that it will fit down inside the plenum. You may want to put some stick tack or a piece of tape between the pieces to keep the bit from falling out of the socket.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JoeKramer
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
17
Feb 12, 2005 03:14 PM
