IMG replace this weekend.torque consensus?

2001 3.2 V6
2x4 Rodeo Sport (anyone selling a soft top?)
155k miles

I'm finally getting around to it. I got the common chamber/img gaskets, injector o-rings, thermostat from the guys at St. Charles Isuzu. I'm borrowing my dad's torque wrench.
What is the final decision on torque specs? Any last minute recommendations on changing anything else while I'm in there? (I will be pulling the plenum completely up to clean out the carbon deposits, egr tube)


My brother likes the car so much he's looking at a 1999 Amigo 2x4 105k 4cyl for $2200. Nice condition, tranny replaced less than 10000 miles ago. Its cheap but I told him the mpg's werent any better and that the forum generally rags on the 4cylinder 2.2. Thoughts?

18 foot pounds.

18 foot pounds.
nooooo. The last TSB I've seen on it says 13 ft lbs (18 nm). Use an inch lb wrench though as a ft lbs one wont be nearly accurate enough at that low of a setting. SB03-01-S003

I finally got this project done.

After a bunch of research I also purchased/replaced intake manifold gaskets, plenum gasket, egr gasket, throttle body gasket, thermostat, both coolant pipe o-rings under the intake manifold, three coolant hoses under the intake manifold, and injector o-rings.

I would add to anybody else that is thinking about pulling off the same repair that 1) Consider replacing the snap rings on the coolant hoses with screw rings, 2) Be very careful pulling the injector connections, once you pull the blue clip that locks them into place up (1/4 on an inch) you can use a small allen wrench (bend it from 90 degrees to 45 degrees) to release the connector from the injector, 3) Plan on having a variety of brushes, degreasers, and TIME if you plan on getting the inside of the mainfold looking decent. I had some extra build up on the upper manifold around where the butterfly valves were seated, making them stick a little. 4) If you get a stiff bristled tube brush you can really break up the buildup in the internal egr pipe before spraying it. Also, you have access to both sections of that pipe by going in either through the TB opening OR by removing the allen screw under the egr valve mounting. 5) This last thing may be up for debate. The four nuts that hold down the lower manifold should be torqued down to 13 ft/lbs (156 in/lbs). I also torqued the four long bolts that pass through both (upper and lower) manifolds and pass through the img's to 13ft/lbs. I figure they should be subject to the same specs since they also put pressure on them. Don't overtighten, buy/borrow an inch/pounds torque wrench.

Started up on the first try this morning after finishing the repair last night. Thanks for all the info. As someone else on one of the posts said somewhere, I am not a total dufus around an engine. I can do brakes and plugs and belts but I would have never attmpted repairing this before finding this forum. Thank you.

Just wondering, how much money do you think was saved in labor?

Someone on another forum that just had it done to his '99 recently said he paid $400 for a shop to do it. They only did the IMGs though and not all the other stuff that you did.

Thanks for posting such a detailed follow-up Palomo! It is a rarity to have that done, and it is sure nice to see!