Will not start after Intake manifold gasket replacement?

1998 FORD MUSTANG
160,000 MILES • 4.6L • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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GYPSYMAGIC1769
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I replaced the intake manifold gaskets on the car listed above GT model, and now it doesn't want to start. i did not torque the intake manifold back on and I also have a slight gap between the throttle body and the intake. please help, I need my car running before snow hits and I don't know what to do.
Dec 19, 2023 at 10:23 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

The gap between the throttle body and intake is a major problem. That will create one big air leak. There must be something preventing it from sealing. Check to make sure nothing got pinched between the two when you installed.

Next, how was the intake tightened?

Let me know.

Joe
Dec 20, 2023 at 9:30 PM
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GYPSYMAGIC1769
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Hey Joe, I tightened intake with a regular 3/8 socket wrench because I don't have a torque wrench, but I did take the throttle body off today and noticed that the 4 screw points on the intake where the throttle body screws to the intake are coming out of the intake can this be fixed or do i need a new intake all together? If you want or need pictures of what I described just let me know. Thanks.
Dec 30, 2023 at 11:03 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Is it possible to get a few pictures? Do you mean the screws have gone through the manifold?

Joe
Dec 31, 2023 at 5:08 PM
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GYPSYMAGIC1769
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No, I don't think the screws went through the manifold, I circled the points that are starting to come out of the manifold.
Jan 8, 2024 at 9:15 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

It's really hard to tell in the pics, but they still appear to be okay. Even if one or two of them had a slight leak, it should have still run.

The only thing I can say is to reinstall it, make sure the gap is no longer present, and see what happens.

If it doesn't start after reinstalling it, we need to go in a different direction.

Let me know.

Joe
Jan 9, 2024 at 8:04 PM