Here are some pictures from today's work.

This is the 3rd or 4th time I've had the intake manifold off, so nothing new to show there, but I took a few snaps of the new injectors and the method I used to line up the helicoil threader in the head.





Installed two of the bolts on the edge and wrapped a string around them to get the vertical alignment set. Then just eyed the horizontal alignment. Came out perfect.

Also found a good lead for a possible culprit for the EPC light I've been experiencing at high speeds.



This vacuum hose in the rear of my intake was toast. Definitely had a boost leak. Makes sense as this whole problem started back sometime after I did 3 things: did the valve seals, meth injection kit, and water pump. So I already troubleshot/replaced everything that could have happened during the valve seal and meth install, but this would have happened while replacing the water pump. It's either that or I'm thinking it could have been triggered from high EGTs from a too lean/rich AFR from the meth, faulty injector, or 7 heat range plugs. Now that I'm running a 20/80 meth/water mix with one nozzle, have new 8-range plugs and replaced my injectors, I really hope this is taken care of.

Also I'm pretty sure it's literally impossible to install the #1 injector in the head. You have to install it in the intake then press it into the head. There is no way to get the wiring clip on there from the harness due to there being zero slack. The manifold has to be literally 100% on the head in order to get that clip on there, and then there's no room to get your fingers in there to connect it. So I had the other 3 installed in the head and the first one installed in the intake when reinstalling everything. That seemed to have worked like a charm. The last few times I reinstalled my intake the injectors all came out with the intake and I reinstalled them like that anyway so I'm sure it's fine.

Lastly, just a heads up. The new injectors and install kits have a different washer setup than the stock 09 injectors. The stock ones had a larger white plastic washer with 3 nubs on the inside of the ring, which sealed it against the head. The new ones don't use that, they use the smaller black plastic ring with the 3 legs that snap into the injector. This takes the place of those white washers, so discard them if you're using the new ones.