If the bolts are close to the torque setting, that should be close enough to get the gasket to seal. Since you have a leak around several studs, I'm leaning more towards previous gasket material left over that didn't get cleaned off.

As you mentioned earlier, don't use something extremely abrasive to clean both surfaces. I've used the 2000 (or higher) grit sandpaper on a flat block that I'd use on the clearcoat to clean up a gasket surface.

 

I will check both surfaces again, but I'm 98% sure I got all of the old material off. And the leaks are between bolt holes, not around the holes themselves.

 

Update: removed the old gasket and I found the issue. It doesn't have a nice straight top edge so it didn't effectively seal off the top of the manifold. The new one does, so I'm 98% certain this will fix the problem. Too bad I didn't notice that BEFORE I installed it...

So now I'm having difficulty removing the last little bit of the old intake manifold gasket, mainly underneath the studs on the head. I only have about 4-5 inches of room to get anything down there. Gasket scraper is limited access and trying to get my hand down there with a razor blade is difficult as well. Tips appreciated ASAP as I need to have it back together tonight.

 

I have found the spray gasket remover to be helpful.

good luck

 

It was definitely the gasket. Poor design. Got it all cleaned up, put back together, and she runs PERFECT. Idle is down where it should be, drops like it should while decelerating, and she runs like a dream. So far no more bouncing, so I think it's safe to say the vacuum leak is gone! Thanks again for all the help guys!

 

Good to hear you gat is going again

 

Thanks, and thanks to all for your help!

Okay, so it has been running BEAUTIFULLY the last couple of days. However, this morning as we headed off to school after starting up, it did some more bouncing for a few seconds and then stopped. It's not just the tach, either. It does it while coasting in gear and it's very noticable as the car kinda lurches along with the bounce. Could it just be a hiccup from the computer (probably not), or could it just be that there's still a little air in the cooling system? I would think it would be all burped out after all the driving...

 

I'd check the coolant level and be sure to bleed the system.

It might be ok now and not worth it but there is an "idle re-learn" procedure you could try.

This is a few days old.....my normal work gets in the way sometimes ....so if nothing has happened since that one time, keep driving and enjoy.

 

hey did you get this issue fixed. I am having the same issue.

 

you can apply RTV silicon sealant on bothside of gasket and then tight the manifold and rest for 2 hours then again check the leakage