Separating The Throttle Body From Intake Plenum

[NDL01]

I have 175k on my truck, and I'd really like to clean not only the throttle body, but the EGR passage, etc.

For that reason, I want to pull the throttle body off of the intake manifold/plenum, but the throttle body and gasket, has welded itself to the intake manifold.

I tried using a flat blade instrument as a wedge, between the throttle body gasket and the intake manifold, but I can't get it in there.

I don't want to whack at the thing too hard, because of the sensor that's riveted onto the throttle body.

Any ideas on how I can separate the throttle body from the plenum, without damaging anything?

Thank you

 

[Earl43P]

Repeated whacks with a dead blow mallet (a plastic/rubber hammer full of lead shot) shouldn't damage it.

 

[adsm08]

Make sure you have all 4 bolts (I know, but it's the internet, I have to state the obvious and stupid, it's in my contract), get a rubber mallet, not a real dead blow, but the one with the big rubber head that they use to close paint cans at the store, and just hit the top of the TB as hard as you want.

 

[NDL01]

Thank you both, for your replies .

So I won't have to worry about damaging the sensor that's mounted to the throttle body, when whacking the throttle body with a mallet?

 

[scotts90ranger]

as long as you don't hit the sensor... if you think you will hit the sensor use a 2x4 to space the hammer out... using a small dead blow (1-2lb) would be fine, larger with smaller wacks...

 

[NDL01]

Thanks again, for the reply

I'm short on cash, so I am playing it "better safe than sorry."