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FRPP intake manifold

3K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  EscortSportage 
#1 ·
Had a great time on track at Sonoma Raceway yesterday with NASA Norcal. Meet a bunch of cool folks, saw a lot of awesome cars, watched a couple of races and learnt a lot from my instructor.

Unfortunately, on the last session the intake manifold broke at the nipple where the heater core hose attaches to and spewed coolant all over. Luckily I was in a good spot on track with an access road for the tow and rescue to come get me off track without much distubance to the rest of the group.

What's upsetting is that the intake manifold is the revised FRPP one with the aluminum crossover. It was on the car for roughly 10k miles only. The car is a 1999 GT that came with the all plastic intake manifold that is known to crack and leak near the thermostat housing.

Question is, should I replace the intake manifold with another FRPP one? Should I go Dorman instead? Should I pay $$$$$ for an aftermarket all aluminum one?

Also, I do not have a tow hook/strap and the tow driver rescued me by strapping to the front sway bar. Any recommendations for this issue as well?


Thanks!

 
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#2 ·
#3 ·
I’ll probably go with that same strap from Racequip. I like the price and that it has an adjustable length. The only thing I’m worried about is using just one bolt to hold it in place. How do you have yours mounted and have you tried towing it yet?

As for the intake manifold, apparently this is a common problem on these 2V 4.6 motors (Mustang, Crown Vic, etc.). Pre-2002 Mustang GTs used an all plastic manifold which cracks at the seams from the repeated heating and cooling (AKA just driving the car) over the years. In 2002, there was a revised model where the two front coolant crossovers are now aluminum, but they still weep coolant where the aluminum meets the plastic and/or cracks at the nipple where the heater hose connects to. Of course this happens over the years of repeated heat/cool cycles.

Ford settles Intake Manifold lawsuits

2002 Mustang GT intake manifold cracked

Radiator hose popped off... What is this?


Anyway, I decided to go with a brand new one from LMR. It has a build date of January 2017. This one that broke on me was a low mileage, clean one out of a 2002 that I bought from a member of another forum back in 2014. I'm just here sitting here waiting for the rain to go away and looking at my brand new, shiny FRPP intake manifold so I can get my car up and running again.
 
#4 ·
The dorman is a poor design and will cost you a few ponies. As for structure, I'm assuming it will be about the same. You could go with the bullet, svo, trick flow, or another aluminum manifold but I'm not sure on how much they will heat soak.
 
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#7 ·
I installed a FRPP manifold on my 99 in 2005. I used Felpro gaskets which didn't look or perform as good as stock. Had coolant seepage for years and finally had to replace gaskets with Ford in 2011. Manifold is still working fine though.
 
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#13 ·
Since we've got a good discussion about straps going on I figured I'd share this here. I got this idea from Greensteeda who is no longer active on Mustang boards.
I used the Racequip strap with soft loop. I've got it as long as it goes and can pull it at anything less than 90 degrees and not damage anything. Probably not the absolute best way to mount it but I didn't have to cut my bumper cover. The hole was already in the metal bumper bar. I did have to dremel the plastic headlight panel.





 
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