This is an issue that should not be. Plastic can not be used for high heat, high pressure instances in areas that completely destroys any use of the vehicle until it has been repaired. Money is not growing on tree's and this is an expensive part and job that takes more than the average individual to repair so we are talking over 1000.00 to repair if you are willing to put another piece of plastic garbage on the car, number goes up when you purchase the proper intake after market. What would this actually be considered? Scam? Scheme? Or just an out right rip off?

Was about to drive out to a Pull-A-Part Salvage Yard to help my friend get some stuff for his car. Waiting at the light I noticed steam coming out of the front so I stopped. Coolant was sprayed on all the hoses and alternator, so I took the car home after topping it off with water. I had my friend drive me down to the yard to get a used intake manifold. Here's the catch, I still had the original plastic intake crossover where the coolant line from the radiator hooks up. After scouring every Town Car, Grand Marquis, and Crown Victoria we finally came to 1997 Crown Victoria, carrying the correct motor and hookups and the Holy Grail, the ALUMINUM intake manifold. After some loosing (which went all the quicker because other parts had already been taken for other cars) I had a undamaged, no-leak, and somewhat clean intake manifold. Went and rung it up for around $40 with a warranty. If you want a cheap solution to this, order online or salvage one, it should have a silver or metal front piece attached where the coolant line runs to, that will be the upgraded manifold, just make sure you clean it and get new O-Rings to finish installing it, specifically if you get a used one, you'll never know what is going on inside, also it does help to take a hose and wash it out too, plenty of dirt rushed out of mine, but at least with out a $345 bill, not including labor from a mechanic!

Took the wife's car to get it washed and coming home from a 3 mile trip, started smelling anti-freeze and shortly after seeing steam coming from the hood. I pulled off the road and couldn't find any busted hoses. I stopped and added some water at a local station. Finished the trip home and after it cooled down, I discovered the 3" crack in the whatever that is. It crosses over across the engine under the alternator. I've never seen that part on a car before. It's made of plastic..... I've read the other reports and am sickened to find out what it will cost to fix. Ford repaired the problem in 2002 so that causes me to make the statement that I always make when faced with this situation:

"WE F*CKED UP, YOU PAY! IT'S THE AMERICAN WAY!"

Unbelievable...........