i used simple green to get the majority of it and brake cleaner, it gets rid of any residue that might screw up the silicone adhesion.

i think i got the plugs at home depot, lowes should have had them, just not the ones with internal hex. they have the square head ones that you have to grind down a little.

I put the lower intake manifold on this evening. It turned into a bit of a job. I was trying to install the intake with the coolant elbow but I could not do it; maybe with some help but not by myself. The gasket would not stay in place on the back/right head; it seemed to have a bit of a spring in it but I did not want to try any adjustments due to the cost of these gaskets. I finally installed the intake without the coolant elbow so now I will have to take the belt tensioner off in order to get the coolant elbow in place. I hope I did not damage the lower intake gaskets. I should have asked for more information on assembly.

Normally that'* how I do the job myself. I also leave the throttle body on as well. Nothing wrong with having the job take longer than expected.

there should be silicone holding the bottom just put a couple dots on the top to hold it down, then i put the elbow in and lower the manifold

Thanks, hopefully it won't be coming off again if I did not mess up the gaskets. I will just have to take the tensioner lose now; part of the work is already done for that anyway since the alternator is off. I figured it could be done but when I tried, the gasket kept slipping on me. I figured more work to take the tensioner off but better safe than sorry later.

Anything I should know about the upper intake/plenum installation?

on the tensioner there was, another seal you have to worry about in the back if you disturb that. i think it was an oring on the ones before 2000, would put new oring and silicone on that

Torque in sequence and use a torque wrench...

89 inch lbs

I am trying to install the PVC valve assembly onto the upper intake that came with the Dorman kit. I put the O-ring on the PVC valve and the spring and the large O-ring as per the instructions. I press down as hard as I can but I can not rotate the assembly into place. Is it that I am just not able to apply enough pressure to compress the O-rings. Help please.

While I wait for an answer I am going to work on replacing other things.

put some oil on the orings

I got the PCV valve assembly in place but it was very difficult; I guess I just did not have the strength to push hard enough. I took the dorman O-ring off the PCV valve and replaced it with one from the Fel-pro gasket set and it was still hard. I read a tip elsewhere about using a socket on a ratchet and that made it easier to push down and use the ratchet to carefully turn when you have it depressed enough. Still was a touch job for me to get something so simple in place. Strength is one area that men have an advantage when it comes to working on cars.