Plog!! (power log thread)

Oh do the factory manifolds need gaskets? because mine didnt have any.

Mine had steel gaskets from OEM. I got a set of new ones with my headers. I didn't use any RTV to mount them to the engine. I only used it for sealing the clamps. I still have the old gaskets if you're interested.

Hmm... I wonder why mine didnt have any gaskets... I'm interested , but i think i'll try napa first since i want them ASAP.

Tony, I didn't find any gasket on my front either, when I installed a front PEM last summer. I'm doing a Plog and maybe my rear PEM this summer, so I picked up the gaskets. BTW, with a good surface on the cyl head, and on the stock manifold or Plog, a gasket "shouldn't" be needed, it should seal just fine, assuming the surfaces are true. That's how my old Buick 350 came from the factory, no exh manifold gaskets, and no leaks.

I think ZZP should to add a PLOG product for the crossover pipe. After the front manifold and the downpipe, thats the next worst restriction and all they're doing with it so far is coating it to try to bump up velocity

Agree completely, seems it would NOT be hard to make an improved aftermarket crossover.

You used RTV? Where? I didn't use RTV anywhere on my plog. You should use a manifold gasket though.

If you take the plog back off of the head you may notice a small bolt sticking out near the drivers side of the car, in the way of the plog seating properly to cyl 5. (near the bottom of the flange)

I noticed that when I took my plog off, that the little bolt sticking out had actually put a dent in the plog flange. It hadn't caused an exhaust leak for me, but I can see where it would have for others.

I used RTV around the flange.... Maybe it was a bad idea after all... I ordered a set of gaskets for tommorow. Hopefully that will remedy it. I have the factory manifold on there for now.

just watch out for that bolt!

You shouldn't use RTV anywhere on that. It should be fine as a dry install.

I didnt notice it but ill look for it next time. Oh and did you have an issue with the oil dipstick too?

other than it being in the way, not really. I removed the whole dipstick tube, installed plog, reinstalled dipstick tube...

I didn't remove it completely for my front PEM, just loosened up and moved it out of the way as needed then bolted back in place.

Sure is a nice day today, think I'll take some time off this afternoon and install my coated Plog and crossover. Maybe I'll post pics later, and will let ya know how it went.

Dave...loosen the crossover bolts at the same time.. eg a little on each bolt until they are loose. My experience seems to be that if you loosen one..the other binds and ends up breaking.

No doubt, don't want to unscrew 1 all the way first. But after I removed the heat shield at the back of the crossover, I remembered those 2 nuts only hold on the shield. The nuts behind the shield are stuck pretty tight, so I'll have to soak them good in PB Blaster before I try to remove them again and swap crossovers.

However, I did install the Plog w/o much trouble, and am back at work now. I had previously believed there was no front manifold gasket on my Riv, when I swapped on the front PEM last summer. I couldn't see one at the time, and it's difficult to get a clear view. But today I could clearly see the gasket at the bottom of the exhaust port, so it is there. I left it instead of using a new Fel-Pro.

But after I got it all back together and tight, it appears the Plog may be in contact with the block, at the inside of the "L" where it curves up towards the crossover. I'll have to spray some degreaser there and have a 2nd look, could be mistaken. There sure isn't much clearance though, if any. Maybe a mm.

so...hows it feel?

Eh, hard to say. I'm taking it easy on this tank of gas, it's half 87, half 91. Runs fine though.

Dave,

My car had a small stud sticking out of the block right where you describe. I never noticed it until after I took the plog out and saw the dent I had made. You are probably tightened against the same thing. Right before the plog turns up..

-Derek

i just did a front pem and couldnt see or feel any gasket either ?? so i put a new felpro on and its been sealed up good so far .... about a week ...

What is this stud that's sticking out?

Should I have it cut off or something before I install mine? Is it necessary? Hopefully someone has some pics of this stud, I don't want to dimple my Plog when I install it!

This isn't the first time I've heard of this, either.

Ok, it's not the engine block the Plog is contacting, on my car anyway. I reached down there and found it is actually the end of the lower heat shield, sticks out a bit past the edge of the block. However, before the Plog curves up, where it is still straight next to the block, it is extremely close to the front edge of the block. I don't think it's in contact, but damn close. I may remove that heat shield, but first need to examine what it may be protecting underneath. The bottom of the Plog basically rests right in that shield, it seems.

BTW, didn't get at the crossover this weekend. Too much other stuff going on. 2 soccer games, a 1.2 m youth run for my daughter, and power-raked the whole damn yard...

Buapo wrote:

What is this stud that's sticking out?

Should I have it cut off or something before I install mine? Is it necessary? Hopefully someone has some pics of this stud, I don't want to dimple my Plog when I install it!

This isn't the first time I've heard of this, either.

The stud appears to only hold the lower heat shield on. The stud is not close to hitting the Plog.

mr riviera wrote:

i just did a front pem and couldnt see or feel any gasket either ?? so i put a new felpro on and its been sealed up good so far .... about a week ...

I was certain there was no gasket on mine last summer when I did the front PEM. But this time the lower edge of it was visible, pulled slightly away from the head. Thought about taking it out and going with the Fel-Pro, but since it's so darn hard to see anything, I didn't want to deal with trying to do any cleanup for a new gasket. The OEM steel gaskets are usually good still.

sorry to keep prodding you for results Dave , but i'm still not convinced a plog is worth the money. Do you feel a difference in power? sound? gas mileage? it's looking like lots of fitment issues for little effect. this was going to be my next mod, but i'm second thinking it.

Just bend the heat shield out of the way, using pliers. Worked for my header install. If you had to, you could mark and snip away part of it.