I Cracked my Plenum
10-08-2005, 03:12 PM
#1
I Cracked my Plenum
Hey guys I was installing Motordynes Iso Thermal Gasket and when everything was just about finished and I was torquing down the middle bolts on the plenum to 110 inch pounds with a 1/4 inch torque wrench. All of the outside bolts would torque down easily, but the ones in the middle seemed like they wouldn't torque down properly. Then it happened- CRACK! My only theory is that there are no supports to make contact with the lower plenum. The plenum was absorbing the stress and the bolts weren't torquing. The spacer is one of the first sold and it has been on for a while, I think the lack of supports has weakened it over time.
The good news is I have found an aps tallboy plenum and an aps strut bar. Amazingly they were both in stock, I will post results.
The good news is I have found an aps tallboy plenum and an aps strut bar. Amazingly they were both in stock, I will post results.
10-08-2005, 06:00 PM
#2
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It did not. I'm a big guy and I can jump up and down on top of the plenum with or without the spacer. Most likely your plenum was already a weak casting. Also, there is no way to tighten the bolts down to a point that they could crack or break a 1/4" thick casting of aluminum without the threads tearing out of the lower plenum. The fact of the matter is its more dangerous for loose and potentially unsecure components (spacers) to be placed inside the plenum. They could potentially fall into the motor.
Sorry about the situation. We would have been willing to swap a plenum for you at no charge just to make sure you were taken care of. If you do want that please give me a call or email.
Sorry about the situation. We would have been willing to swap a plenum for you at no charge just to make sure you were taken care of. If you do want that please give me a call or email.
10-08-2005, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by dynamic6er
Sorry about the situation. We would have been willing to swap a plenum for you at no charge just to make sure you were taken care of. If you do want that please give me a call or email.
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10-08-2005, 11:42 PM
#9
Originally Posted by dynamic6er
Sorry about the situation. We would have been willing to swap a plenum for you at no charge just to make sure you were taken care of. If you do want that please give me a call or email.
WOW!!! Talk about outstanding customer service! I cant think of any shop I've ever purchased parts from that would back a screw-up on an install they didn't perform. Thats awsome! 
10-09-2005, 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by alininger2001
I borrowed a copy of the nissan service manual and it only says a max 0f 60 or so for all of the bolts, why is everyone going with 110?
Information from the manuals...
Intake Manifold Collector (Upper)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
Intake Manifold Collector (Lower)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
If stud bolts were removed, install them and tighten to the torque specified below. 4.9 - 6.9 N·m (0.5 - 0.7 kg-m, 44 - 61 in-lb)
AAM's instructions specify...
1. Tighten all bolts to 4.9 - 6.9 Nm (0.5 - 0.7 kgf-cm, 44 - 61 inch-lbs.)
a. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE BOLTS!
b. USE INCH/POUNDS NOT POUND/FEET!
Last edited by DaveO; 10-09-2005 at 07:53 AM.
10-09-2005, 09:52 AM
#16
Originally Posted by the7ferret
Same thing happened to me
but you as I didn't read the directions all the way.. It says to only torque the top 6 bolts to 60 and the rest to 110.
but you as I didn't read the directions all the way.. It says to only torque the top 6 bolts to 60 and the rest to 110.
The motordyne instructions say 110 inch lbs don't they. But the service manual and AAM directions say 60 inch lbs. Is this right? This is the second time I have installed the spacer so I used motordynes install directions.
10-09-2005, 10:23 AM
#18
I really feel stupid now guys, this is the first ever install I have screwed up, had I torqued the bolts to only 60 inch lbs I would be driving right now with my beloved AAM spacer in this perfect texas weather. I would like to give props to dave at AAM, now that is customer service. Dave don't worry about sending me a new plenum, we are good, sorry about the initial post. If anyone wants an AAM angled spacer with no bolts or gaskets, pm me I will let it go for shipping only, I want someone else to be able to use this product since I can't anymore.
10-09-2005, 12:53 PM
#19
Originally Posted by DaveO
The way the service manuals cover this is very confusing. The torque values for the upper collector's 16 bolts & 2 studs/nuts and the lower collector's 6 bolts and 2 studs/nuts are 9 - 10 ft-lbs (108 - 120 in-lbs). The two studs that screw into the lower collector are tightened to 44 - 61 in-lbs.
Information from the manuals...
Intake Manifold Collector (Upper)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
Intake Manifold Collector (Lower)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
If stud bolts were removed, install them and tighten to the torque specified below. 4.9 - 6.9 N·m (0.5 - 0.7 kg-m, 44 - 61 in-lb)
AAM's instructions specify...
1. Tighten all bolts to 4.9 - 6.9 Nm (0.5 - 0.7 kgf-cm, 44 - 61 inch-lbs.)
a. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE BOLTS!
b. USE INCH/POUNDS NOT POUND/FEET!
Information from the manuals...
Intake Manifold Collector (Upper)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
Intake Manifold Collector (Lower)
11.8 - 13.7 N·m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb)
If stud bolts were removed, install them and tighten to the torque specified below. 4.9 - 6.9 N·m (0.5 - 0.7 kg-m, 44 - 61 in-lb)
AAM's instructions specify...
1. Tighten all bolts to 4.9 - 6.9 Nm (0.5 - 0.7 kgf-cm, 44 - 61 inch-lbs.)
a. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE BOLTS!
b. USE INCH/POUNDS NOT POUND/FEET!
That pic is from the 2004 manual. Maybe Nissan discovered that the torque on the 6 inside bolts was too much and backed them off to 60 in-lbs in the later manuals.
