just FYI, incase someone needs to know...........
the bottom rear of the explorer intake has two vac lines pressed in, one little and one big.
the big line gets hacksawed off flush to the intake.
It gets drilled out and threads made to accept your screw in vac tree you will take from your original intake.
it just so happens that the drill and tap for this required modification is the same sizes needed to add your ACT sensor as well.
You need a 9/16" drill bit and a 3/8" NPT tap
Note to the wise****
do not run your 3/8'' NPT tap ***ALL THE WAY into your new hole you drilled.
If you do, your entire opening you just threaded will be a little to large for the object your are going to screw in.
If you run your tap in, stop when the tap is about 3/4 of the way up into the hole you are threading.
I did not know this and threaded an ACT sensor hole by running the tap all the way into the lower intake.
when i test installed the ACT, it felt oddly loose.
From this lesson and working on an explorer upper intake yesterday, i threaded my hole using my tap but stopped kinda early.
so, the 3/8'' NPT tap works but it will ruin your project if you run it all the way in.
just start test fitting your screw in object when you get half way in with your tap and you will figure out how deep you should stop.
Hmm. Is there a way to fix this?
nothing broke,, just explaining what you need to do in order to use an explorer upper intake on your existing 5.0 short block,, assuming you also got the explorer lower intake.
Any NPT thread is tapered.
NOPE their is also Straight pipe threads just to throw a wrench in this. Anytime you use a Tapered pipe tap always trial fit as jay points out it will mess you up big time. If that was a water connection he would have been screwed. Also never over tighten a pipe fitting. It can crack the manifold inn a heart beat. Ask me how i KNOW!!
How can this be fixed if tap ran all the way through so the sensor fits loose?
Its just a sensor, I'd use enough teflon tape to make it snug. As long as your not running massive boost, wont be much stress on the threads.
Chris
There are straight pipe threads, but the NPT standard specifies a tapered thread. Technically, you're both right.
Chris
Thank you, I will keep that in mind when I look my lower over again.
This is a bit odd as I drilled and tapped the hole for the ACT sensor in the lower I'm running without issue. I used the same size drill bit and tap. Are you sure it's a NPT tap? It wouldn't surprise me if you just bought it and it was labeled wrong or put in the wrong package. That happens on occasion.
The tap if it is a good one should be clearly marked by the maker. All Pipe taps must not be run all the way in. That is how they are designed. To fix it use a HELI COIL INSERT!!
im gonna check to see if the tap i purchased is marked.
i will also post the part number / description,, good points about straight vs tapered taps, i rarely run accros straight taps, most all i see are tapered.
I asked for a super cool metric & standard set for my up coming birthday along with several grits of emery cloth rolls
Jay i do not have BIRTHDAYS any more!!!
Jay everyone calls the PIPE TAP Tapered . NPT NATIONAL PIPE THREADS. That is totally wrong NPT is NATIONAL PIPE TAPERED. The Taper rate is 3/4 inches per foot. NPS is national pipe straight. Normally NPS threads are used in ELECTRICAL applications like LAMP PIPES ETC> Just stick with me i am old and know about USELESS shiznit LIKE THIS!!
thats a good way to remember the two differnces tom,, thanks!
taking notes on that,