I understand that Ford used the crappy plastic intake manifold that are prone to cracking. I just want to know how often does this happen and can it be some how prevented from cracking?? Should I invest in getting a better intake now before this happens or not? Is it certain all 99-2001 mustangs with plastic intakes will crack sooner or later or r there a few fortunate one out there free from this problem?

 

all the cases of cracked intakes usually involved boost, or a wet shot of nitrious that resaulted in a scattered intake, if persueing either of those routes, get a aftermarket one, if not, dont fix it if its not broken.

 

I just bought a 2000 GT a couple weeks ago and my intake manifold just started squirting out coolant.

 

they will crack at some point in time, FI or not. FI obviously increases the risk but i would venture to say the majority of the ones that do crack didnt even have boost. mine didnt.

the 99-01.5 had a plastic coolant crossover which was more prone to cracking than the 01.5-04 which upgraded to an aluminum one. however, they can and will still crack. mine cracked right after i bought the car and it was misting out coolant from right below the aluminum crossover.

best advice? most of the aftermarket intake manifolds either suck, cause you to lose power on a low mod car, or are very expensive, or a combination of all 3. they don't crack every 5,000 miles, so if you are worried about it just buy a plastic replacement one (with the aluminum crossover if your gonna do it do it right) for 150 bucks and leave it on a shelf in your garage. it could crack next week, next year, or never at all. but if it does you have a replacement on hand and can get your car back to 100% in a couple hours.

 

Ford released a TSB and a new intake that uses an aluminum crossover for that, didn't they? They may have even recalled some of them.

 

The coolant crossover is what cracked on my engine, IMO it cracked due to higher coolant pressure at a higher rpm than the previous owner had gone to. The new manifolds have an aluminum coolant crossover and will not crack. There was a lawsuit and recall, however it expired in 2007 from what I have researched. I guess the air intake runners of the plastic intake manifold could also crack with nitrous backfires, supercharger boost, etc. They make all aluminum aftermarket intakes, the cost is higher and require different throttle bodies. I ordered off of Ebay the Dorman plastic intake manifold for P.I. heads for $180 with shipping and it is suppose to come with all necessary gaskets and hardware.

 

if someone does need one i wouldnt mind letting one on my shelf go.

 

I hope this time they not recall all that plastics iplastic intake manifold

 

Got my intake manifold and it did not fit because the engine had been changed and I have a NPI engine. Had to order the Dorman intake for non PI heads and send this one back. Could have changed the water tube that runs under the manifold and this one would have fit, but then I would also need a new heater hose and would have to silicone all around the water ports because they weren't exactly the same shape.

 

so this is another case where pushrods rule huh?..........