2.0 plenum issue, Can it be removed while in the car? Options

[robkammer]

Hello brain trust! The engine saga continues on our BB. What started in February as an engine reseal, head refresh, and engine compartment repair is still ongoing. The heads needed a full refresh, and close inspection found cracks, that the head expert 'fixed' with Timeserts. Lifter wear pointed to a cam lobe that was half gone. So off the short block went to a very well know Type I and IV engine builder. Wife and I went to Florida and wandered around for a month while this was all taking place. Back to Ohio in March and I started gathering the parts needed for the re-install.
The heads came back looking great, and the short block looked even better, now with fresh bearings, a stock cam and bearings, and a new oil pump.Oh, and we dicovered that I had a 2056, Cool, right?
Got the heads on, all of the tin, wiring and hoses. Put the beast in the car and started the break in process. First 30 miles, then oil change and valve adjust, then 100 more, rinse and repeat. Noticed a pretty significant oil leak coming from the front of the engine. it was the new oil pump, totally unacceptable. The builder came to my shop in hope that the oil cover gasket was the problem. Uh, no.
So out came the motor, back to the builder who is 100 miles away. At the 130 mile mark I also pulled the plugs to see how they were firing. All good, except that three of the Timeserts came out with the plugs, crap.
So while the engine was at the builder I ordered a new set of AMC heads, shipped directly to the builder. Why not, eh?
Get the engine back in with the new heads, start the process again. Got through about 65 miles and the engine is running like crap.
All of the FI bits are working as they should, and all with engine wires are Jeff b's harnesses. The only non functioning bit is the thermo sensor on the side of the plenum.
Plugs looked ok but maybe a bit on the lean side.

Time for a Smoke test! Cool tool for sure, brings back memories of my Lionel trains.

At first glance it looked like the throttle body shaft was leaking, although I had Rocky in Walla Walla rebuild it while the engine was out the second time. Nope, turns out that one of the two unused tubes through the plenum had somehow come loose and is allowing atmosphere into the plenum. I've attached a video.

So after that long intro about my sorrows, the question is: Can I remove the plenum while the engine is in the car? I struggled getting the intake runners onto the plenum the second time while the engine was on the cart, I used the 100 mile old rubber tubes and they may have shrunk. I'll buy new rubbers again, and of course the intake gaskets. But am I delusional that I may be able to get the plenum off in order to repair or replace it without dropping the engine, Again!!??

Any helpful advice will truly be appreciated.

Robbo
 smokin.MOV ( 3.06mb ) Number of downloads: 51

[Jack Standz]

Thanks. I typically pull the plugs at each oil interval to check the burn. Where would I mount the O2 sensor to feed the AFR? I would consider doing a stealth install for the gauges, but not mess with the stock console setup. Could the cht ring be mounted under the cht sending unit rather than the spark plug? And finally, maybe, if the motor was to run lean or hot, how would I tell the ECU to change the mixture?

I made that console gauge setup custom for my stuff. The original 3 gauge face is safely stored away.

The cht sensor for the gauge needs to be on the plug for accurate and immediate readings. The location of the djet sensor is deliberately distant so it does not change as quickly and will not read as hot as the plug. You need to know what the valve seats are experiencing so the plug it the right spot.

The MPS is how you tune it to match the motor. However, you can cheat it by simply adding resistance to the wire leading from the cht. It works but not as well as tuning the mps.

Well, Everything I've read says to NOT mess with the MPS. Adding resistance is a bit beyond my comfort zone, especially since Radio Shack went away.
I've spent way more time with this car than I ever expected. We have no local gurus to help. My buddy took his 914 to our go-to guy, and he had it for almost 2 years and it's still not right.
Any advice will be be appreciated.

OK, you asked for advice.

The obvious answer to your question is: Find a better "go-to-guy". Two years working on your buddies 914 and didn't fix the problem? Really? Suggest he become your "never-go-to" guy.