So, I ended up cleaning my 98's IMRCs in the hopes to fix my car's sputtering issues which turned out to be defective new Ford plug wires. After spraying the plates down with carburetor cleaner, the carbon buildup seeped into the bores around the shafts and caused the plates to no longer move freely. I ended up removing the plates and shafts to clean out the carbon gum and carefully reassembled them. They moved freely and were now spotless. After reassembling the intake, I now have an idle issue 98 Cobra idle when moving - YouTube
So I went through replacing and testing everything associated with the idle (IAC, MAF, TPS, EGR, etc.) and ended up taking it back in to the shop to run tests that I couldn't. He called me in and did the smoke test (which I also did with a cigar and a hose) in front of me that revealed a massive leak that had smoke pouring out of the front part of the IMRC where the shaft meets the outer part of the plate. I guess either the carb cleaner damaged the seal or the carbon was making a seal in the bore and I cleaned it off, but anyway, it caused the leak.
I hadn't planned to delete them because of the 50/50 opinions as to whether it is beneficial to a N/A motor to do so, but I have no choice now but to delete them.
The mechanic (a former 97 Cobra owner who also deleted his) is going to do it and said he can reprogram the computer to turn off the IMRCs for 100 bucks.
So I went through replacing and testing everything associated with the idle (IAC, MAF, TPS, EGR, etc.) and ended up taking it back in to the shop to run tests that I couldn't. He called me in and did the smoke test (which I also did with a cigar and a hose) in front of me that revealed a massive leak that had smoke pouring out of the front part of the IMRC where the shaft meets the outer part of the plate. I guess either the carb cleaner damaged the seal or the carbon was making a seal in the bore and I cleaned it off, but anyway, it caused the leak.
I hadn't planned to delete them because of the 50/50 opinions as to whether it is beneficial to a N/A motor to do so, but I have no choice now but to delete them.
The mechanic (a former 97 Cobra owner who also deleted his) is going to do it and said he can reprogram the computer to turn off the IMRCs for 100 bucks.