YIKES!...HELP!...Why Me...???

James Scott · #1 11-10-2005, 03:26 PM

I spent almost $4000 on my SVX a few months ago while repairing a head gasket failure! THIS IS CRAZY!

I'm coming home last night...pulling into the garage...and my engine is going up and down in rpm's..it can't settle on a stable rpm! I look under the hood ...and....lo and behold! The top gasket on the intake manifold gasket... of the intake manifold PHENOLIC SPACERS...are SPLITTING and SLIDING OUT...ALLOWING AIR TO SNEAK IN THRU THIS IMPROPER ENTRANCE!. Why Me!!! It appears as tho the adhesive on the top (cooler, right?) side of the spacer is acting like RTV (so slick, the gasket is splitting and sliding out!).

Help! This is crazy! Why didn't the lower (hotter) gaskets slide out (they look fine!). Also, I took off the 4 bolts on each side to move the manifold, but it didn't want to move!? Is there something else holding the manifold from being removed...or at least loosened enough to remove the spacers/gaskets?

HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST REPAIRING? I can't even remember where I got these (Dayle?)...? I do have a set of gaskets (I got before I ordered the spacers (WHICH COME WITH GASKETS ATTACHED).

THANKS for any help you can give!

P.S. I'm not gonna ask why they put the AC line right on top of the front manifold bolt on the driver's side! Can I just let the 134 out and refill later?

svxfiles · #2 11-10-2005, 04:30 PM

Read post 53. And I have pictures in my locker.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...henolic+spacer

davew833 · #3 11-10-2005, 06:05 PM

According to the EPA, it's been illegal to deliberately release r134a into the atmosphere since 1991, even though it's supposedly the "environmentally safe" alternative to R12. I accidentally sprung a leak in my A/C system and lost my r134a when I was trying to remove my intake manifold to do the head gaskets. It's not something you want to do in an enclosed garage! It was the very same intake manifold bolt you're having trouble with that got me.

svxfiles · #4 11-10-2005, 06:38 PM

You can unbolt the AC compressor and lift it enough for clearance.

James Scott · #5 11-10-2005, 08:51 PM

BUT...How do I repair?.....Or should I replace them (Outlaw replacements)?

P.S. Has anyone heard of this happening? Or is it just ME!? YIKES!

#6 11-12-2005, 10:50 AM

outlaw is the way to go especially if u got to pull all that stuff off any ways.

James Scott · #7 11-15-2005, 08:33 PM

Sean @ Outlaw Eng. has sent me new spacers with gaskets atteched. He said he's never heard of this failure ever!

Please tell me what else I have to loosen or remove to get the spacers out....other than the 8 manifold bolts [and the AC coolant line over the front manifold bolt on the driver's side of the manifold]. Please tell me it's easy! If difficult, I'll have to return it to the mechanic...hopefully for a deal on the labor to redo! [One thing that bothers me is that he had his "apprentice" installing this intake manifold, yet he was charging me $85 per hour! ....for a total of $1750 for the head gasket (and a couple small extras)!]

Sean was hesitant at first to pop for the replacement spacers, but after a little explanation, he readily agreed to send another pair of spacers!

[He does wanna see the damaged spacers, tho!]

THANKS!....I'll keep u posted...