Put the engine and gearbox back on the separating table
Since I had the engine crane out, I contrived a solution to split the inlet manifold. The strap goes through each inlet port and supports the inner portion. The outer portion is wedged underneath the two box sections which are clamped to the legs of the engine crane
A little persuasion from the crane and the inner just popped out
I'd dropped some brake cleaner in there previously so this probably loosened the silicone
Lift it out
and thats it from the top. These flaps open up at high rpm and shorten the inlet tracts. Its an interesting arrangement - the springs on the front hold them open, and the vacuum pods pull them shut at low speed. Presumably this is because the engine has less vacuum at high rpm since the throttle is open, so its easier to let go of the pods to actuate the manifold than it would be to try and actuate the pods.
This piece is a very intricate pressure die-cast. The tool for this must have been exceedingly difficult to make with such fine details.
The upper manifold is also die cast, but a magnesium alloy, the same as the cam covers. What's particularly interesting is that it looks like the mould must have been sand blasted after machining to give the outer surface a sand-cast alloy look. That's purely for visual effect, rather than an artefact of the manufacturing process.
The two halves are sealed together with silicone
Back on the engine. Gearbox and torque converter bolted on, starter back on
New manifold bolts and powder-coated upper coolant pipe
Reconditioned alternator
