Side feed fuel injector and integrated fuel rail/intake manifold

An intake manifold assembly includes an improved air intake manifold receiving novel side feed fuel injectors. A fuel rail is integrated as a common part defining a common fuel passage integral with the air intake manifold. The common fuel passage supplies the side feed fuel injectors through openings that are spaced away from the injector nozzles toward an opposite connector end of each injector. The injector design concentrates an actuating coil, armature and nozzle valve in a lower or nozzle end of the injector. The fuel is fed from the side feed opening through an axially centered fuel passage that extends through the coil and the associated armature to the injection valve in a manner identical to corresponding top feed injectors. Thus, the performance advantages of top feed injection systems are provided while gaining the reduction in cost attributable to elimination of the separate fuel rail and subassembly. Various arrangements are disclosed for retaining the injectors in the manifold assembly.