I think the IAC and throttle body use 7mm bolts, not 8mm.

Also, if the IAC is clogged really bad, I would go ahead and replace it, but clean it and see what you get. You want to spray cleaner in there and get that little rod free of carbon (its a small rod with a spring around it).
If it is as bad as it sounds, buy a few (ie, 3 or 4) cans of intake cleaner, remove the throttle body (4 7mm bolts) and clean it out including the various ports. It sounds like it will all be pretty clogged up.

Thats what I would do anyway...I did it on my 5.4 and it took me a few hours although I think it's a little harder to get the TB and IAC out on the 5.4 than the 4.6

 

If it were mine,and there was that much carbon build up ide take the TB off and clean it.Reason being is,there are two more ports on the bottom side of the TB,that you cant see unless you remove it,that are probably filled with carbon.Use a wire brush and TB cleaner to clean the IAC ports.Dont worry about it getting into the engine; it will blow out the exhaust.If you get alot in the engine you might want to change the oil afterwards.To clean the TB ports,spray TB cleaner in the ports and pick the carbon out with a toothpick or a pointed plastic object.Keep us posted!
BTW,you wont believe how much better your truck will run after this procedure!

 

Thanks again!

Got the plastic part of the TB off, cleaned the IAC free of carbon, looked down in the 2 ports where it mounts to the TB, and there was plenty of sooty looking carbon. Took some alcohol/TB cleaner and a few Q-tips and cleaned it out really well. Got the Butterfly working great and cleaned out, but now, like you both said, i guess since ive got everything from the air filter to the TB off and its all exposed, i guess i could pull the TB off and slam the cleaner to it and let it sit overnight....

Wish I could figure out how to post pics online with my new digital camera i could show whats going on.

My dad was looking at it for a minute and he suggested that I should just clean what i see and leave it alone, and that if i took the TB off then id see all the carbon built up on the rise-up intake below the TB and that Id jsut want to clean it too. Going to go look at it again and maybe jerk the TB off and clean it.

Ill keep ya'll posted as I proceed....thanks again!

 

You're this deep into it now why stop? You only have two more ports to clean and your done! Your truck will thank you for it!

 

From Picture #2 perspective: (located on page 1):



The throttle body is two separate pieces, so I pulled it apart. (The 4 8mm bolts you see). Pulled it off, cleaned it, and was looking into the piece still mounted. Saw 2 or 3 ports that were dirty, the whole inside as far as i could see down was covered in a carbon/oil like texture--nasty! Should i spray the crap out of that so that the ports are clean, or do i need to take this piece off too to clean it? Im worried about cleaning it on the truck since all that crap could run down furthur into my intake.


How do I disconnect the metal line that runs from the back of the throttle body over to the brake booter mounting? I traced it over to the brake booster and tried removing it there, but got a little psssst of compressed air, not much just a little. I guess ill just un-do it there and pull it out with the rest of the TB.

 

I would just take it off up to the 3rd pic you posted earlier. My intake runner was pretty black but it was just too much hassle to bother with.

If I am thinking about the right connector at the back of the TB (connects to the TB with a rubber boot0, you just have to work with it alot. On my 5.4 it is actually secured with a bolt (10mm I think, a little to the rear of the TB) so check that out. Otherwise, you might "coax" it with a large screwdriver.
Here's a pic I had in my gallery of it (the one below the large hose):

The first time I removed mine I had to remove the other end from the brake booster and take out the whole hose assembly attached to the TB...

Here was my lower intake...I didn't bother with it, more than I was willing to get into

 

thanks John
As of right now, i am at the same stage as pic #1 you posted above. Trying to "coax" that line off like in pic 1. Couldnt i just unhook it from the brake booster--seems like it'd be easier.

Also, on the right side (passenger side) i got the spring and 2 throtle cables removed, but theres a little rubber boot down there that connectes behind them---its really stubborn. Guess it just slides off but it wont budge with all my strength applied to it. Tried coaxing it with needlenose pliers but didnt work.
Back to work, i gota get it to the carwash late tonight or tomrrow to rinse all that salt off the body--Yuck!

Will post again in an hour or so---May need to run to the gas station for another 6 pack--this is a 12 pack job!!

 

That sounds like the pcv valve boot.Whatever you do dont break it! These usually go bad and crack or get holes in them and throw CEL codes. Good luck and I hope you get 'er done! Its bed time for me!

 

no doesnt look like anything to do with pcv but i could be wrong--its stubborn one way or another!

Drivers side back bolt on the TB--wow that is a booger. Can i remove what looks like the sprark advance (mounted to the TB just left of it) so that this bolt will be easy to re-install?

 

ok, everything is off, it looks like what pic #2 does above^

Hope Oriely's Throttle Body and Choke Cleaner is acceptable cause thats what i used on everything... What is the purpose for this 'layer' on the throttle body that could be ruined by some carb cleaners? I used this Throttle Body/Choke Cleaner and mine doesnt look any different, just clean.

Got the ports cleaned out, lots of gunk in there. I would spend the time to re-assemble everything tonight, but i tore the gasket that mounts it to the manifold (pic 2 above^) What should i use to put this gasket back on with? Will a small amount of evenly applied gasket sealent work, cause i dont think this particular gasket goes on dry like the other 2 Ive gotten off do, they look like they go on dry.

Going to get a gasket set in the morning and start re-assembling.
Time for some cheesecake, a beer, shower, then bed...

 

You do not need to use any sort of gasket sealer for that gasket, they all go on dry.

The layer on the TB is "supposed" to be there to keep carbon from building up...lot of good that does right? :P

 

oooh i see, yea alot of good that does. Why do these engines make so much carbon anyways?

Ok, off to Ford dealer for gaskets, more cleaner, then re-assembly. Will post later....

 

Got gaskets from Ford, they reccomended going with metal ones not the factory paper ones, and all of them go on dry. Whew!

A Ford technician told me that the best throttle body cleaner was 3M, so i bought 2 bottles of it (9 bucks! ), but that stuff works great. I couldnt believe how many Q-tips i went thru cleaning out all the little ports, and a toothbrush cleaning out the main passageway on the TB. Lots of buildup. Now time for re-assembly, will post when all complete, should be about 2 hours or so....we'll see.

 

When I did mine I used STP intake/throttly body cleaner. It worked pretty well.

Good luck with it, you're done with the hard part now.

As for why it gets all that carbon buildup, I think it has something to do with the PCV letting crap get into the intake.

 

All Finished!! Great results!

Got it all back together, new battery in, all hoses, etc hooked up, fired up with a VROOOMMM!!! like it did when it was new. Let it warm up, hit the road, much improved response and smoothness. And best of all...NO MORE PINGING!!! Pinging is gone,(running 87 octane), even at wide open throttle and on the highway. Also, cleaned the MAF with alcohol and cotton swabs. Drives like brand new.

Before--Rough to no idle, lots of pinging, general slugishness.
After--Runs like brand new, no pinging, better response and smoother running overall.

Total time spend under the hood 7-8 hours. If i could do it again now that i know what im doing 2-3 hours.

Highly reccomend for a tune up on 46/54 motors. Be careful not to drop any screws, sockets, etc down into the intake or below the intake....would be he// to get them out!

Thanks for the help fellas, ill try to get my digital camera working and take some pics of the pics i took with the disposable camera and post them. Now on to the thermostat and plugs/wires on moms 3.4 GM .... gonna be fun....