Intake Manifold Gasket question

[Dare2Dream]

I think my Intake manifold gasket may be cracked based on the symptoms everyone keeps mentioning. I will probably get it fixed at one of the local shops. I was wondering whether there is any reason to go with the genuine Isuzu gasket as opposed to a Felpro one. They cost about the same, so the question is whether one is more durable than the other.

Please feel free to provide your opinion.

[Zorak]

Unless there has been improvements made to the "genuine Isuzu gasket", I would venture that the apparent high failure rate of the original equipment gasket would tend to favor the Felpro one as a replacement?

[Chopper]

How long was the service life on the OEM? Not much diff between them I bet.

[etlsport]

i think the reason for the common failure of the gaskets was that the original isuzu torque specs were too high for the intake manifold... i believe the new torque spec is 13ft/lb but u might want to do a search to double check that

[Dare2Dream]

Thanks guys!

I've read somewhere that I need to buy 2 Intake manifold gaskets. Supposedly there are two that need to be replaced. Does that sound correct?

Also, is there a need to buy the Plenum gasket? Merlin from St. Charles said that the mechanics usually can replace the Intake gasket without needing to replace the Plenum gasket. Anyone have experience with that?

[Ldub]

If you don't remove the two most forward bolts & two farthest back you should be able to remove the intake without splitting the plenum.
The two in front hold the pin bracket that the plastic engine cover engages.
The rear ones correspond in location straight back from the front ones, along the rear of the plenum.
There are four (two long, two short) bolts actually holding the intake on, per side.
Three intake ports per cylinder head = 2 intake gaskets.

Look in the right sidebar of the home page, under downloads, for the workshop manual for visual clarification.

[Dare2Dream]

Thanks Ldub, you always have the answers!!

Does anyone know of an install guide online with pictures? If there were one available, then it may be possible for those like me (who are not experts) to replace the intake gaskets by themselves.