I decided it was time to replace the poppet type injectors, go to the updated fuel injector spider. So Tuesday (1/13) was the day to get started. Should only take an afternoon...yeah right.
Once I got enough stuff out of the way to get the upper intake manifold loose and able to see the fuel injector spider, I was surprised to see that I did not have the poppet style after all!
Well....crap!....decided to go ahead to replace it anyways since I had a new spider sitting on my workbench.
Got the upper intake manifold off and attempted to remove the injectors from the lower intake manifold. I sprayed lube around each injector, was able to twist each one, none of them were stuck....so I thought.
I could twist an injector, but it would not pull out. I used a screwdriver to pry on one a bit while pulling and pop!....out come the injector....leaving the tube in the intake....crap!! Went to #4...it came out, so did #6.
Went to #1....broke it....same with #3 and #5.....crap!!!
Made a hook out of some stiff wire and using a small screwdriver, tried to lift an edge of a tube while pulling. Managed to break off a piece of the tube, which of course went down into the intake valve volume...CRAP!
Time to remove the lower intake manifold.
Drained the coolant, pulled the distributor, unbolted the A/C compressor, unbolted the A/C & power steering bracket, removed the alternator, etc, etc.
Got the lower intake off, with a bit of coolant and oily gunk falling into the valley and #1 intake....CRAP!!
Cleaned all of that out, including the piece of tube. Removed the valve covers as they were covered in oily gunk to give them a cleaning.
Went to work on the lower intake....had to drive those tubes out using a drift and hammer. No way were they ever going to pull out.

Anyways, cleaned, cleaned and cleaned some more. In the process of putting it back together now. Have the lower intake back on, had to stop there so the RTV cured.
Hope to finish today....which is Sunday (1/18)......four hours....yeah right!

Anyone else doing this job, allow four days...not hours.

Later,

 

I feel your pain!

I upgraded my FI when I replaced the lower intake manifold (LIM) gaskets.

Two things I wish I had done were to use 4 of the old LIM bolts with their heads cut off to help guide the LIM into place. The second thing was to use better RTV on the ends rather than the stuff that came with the kit. I think I have a small annoying oil leak because the front rail of the block is not sealed well to the LIM.

 

Christine: Well....CRAP!!....I used the small tube of RTV that came with the FelPro gaskets instead of using a large tube of RTV that I had.
Today did not go well at all...........
Got the distributor in fine, first try. Got the hold down bolt tight...which of course I will likely have to loosen to adjust the cam retard once the engine is running again.....oh well.
Put the left valve cover on...no problems at all. The right side gave me some problems due to the oil fill tube getting caught on every wire harness and hose on the right side, but finally got into place.
Time to put the new spider in. Looked-up how to route the injectors and the injectors fought me, those new fuel lines are really stiff! Got all but #3 in, and every time I tried to seat #3, the injector would come out of the tube. Did this like three times. Then lifted the spider body out of the bracket and then seated #3, then slowly compressed the body back into the bracket. Wow!....are those line ever stiff!
Then for some reason I decided that the fuel lines need to be attached to the spider body. Got those in, had to bend the lines back from bending them when I took it out. Ok.....time to put the body gasket on. Well crap!....have to remove the fuel line to get the gasket on. Did that, put the fuel lines back on. Now time to put the upper intake on......wait....what was I thinking?..or rather not thinking. Take the fuel lines off AGAIN as they go on after the upper intake is in place. Did that, so now have the upper intake on and fuel lines attached.
Put the PCV valve on.
Put the fuel fumes solenoid valve (or whatever it is called) on, then put the plastic hose onto it that is held on by a white plastic clip. Push on the hose, but it will not stay on. Take a good look and where is that white plastic clip at? Well CRAP!!!....it fell off at some time, probably when I remove the lower intake. Anyways, look all over engine, floor, chassis, ...not to be found.
Wonder if it fell into the valves as I had the valve covers off when I put the lower intake on.
Remove the coil, and finally snake the right valve cover off. Using a flashlight, I find the white plastic clip, just barely from falling down into a pushrod area. I carefully hook the clip and pull it out. YEAH!!
Decided I had enough for one afternoon....will try to finish tomorrow.

Later,

 

Dang, your post sounds like a wrestling match that you just barely survived!

Those injector hoses are stiff. If I remember correctly, I was cincern with breaking one.

Is where you are cold? That could be why those hoses are stiff.

As for the RTV, yours might be fine.

 

Hopefully the RTV is fine...time will tell.
Not all that cold here, 60s - 70s, but I thought the same, so I sat the spider in the sun for an hour or so....made no notable difference.

Almost all back together this afternoon. Have to go get a new radiator cap as the rubber seal fell out in pieces when I removed it last Tuesday. O'Rielly Auto Parts...here I come.
Tomorrow should finish-up and do a start-up.

Later,

 

Dang Murphy is really hammering on you right now. If it can go wrong, it will.

I did my leaky LIM a few years ago, and had to do it outside (in a tent) in October in northern Alberta, so I feel your pain. It took me a few days too, and your experience so far rings painfully true.

Hopefully the rest goes smoothly and your truck runs well for a long time to come.

 

Northern Alberta, in a tent in October!! Yikes!

 

So basically you overhauled the upper end of your engine --- nice!

I did this job on an Astro Van --- my WIFE's Astro Van --- in December --- in Montana --- it was snowing --- it and I were both outside --- not in a garage --- doing the same job --- with a very cranky wife --- the owner/driver of the Astro Van --- who I made stay to watch me to see if my nose fell just in case I got frostbite.

"This is boy-work --- I don't want to be here --- I'm cold --- I'm tired --- This hurts" --- kinda crappola.

Wimmen -- they should grow a pair!

 

I once had to tell the BF to stop taking the lead while I was doing a repair on another car by telling him "My shop, my rules. Don't make me make you sweep the floor!" LOL