Changed my intake manifold gaskets

[wicked-irocz]

Since I already had my EGR, thermostat housing, and TB off and I knew my gaskets were somewhat seeping (never had anything in the oil, just damp at the edge between the head and intake) I replaced em.  On a side note, theres a nut on that coil pack assembly bracket  that they couldnt have made any harder to get off  ( the one behind and to the driver side). I could have probably just left it alone for quite some time but anyway heres the pics.

2 of the sides looked like this and 2 looked like new.  I was told many do this and never leak.

[MAJ28]

Ahh the LIM, how much fun!  You should've done the 180º thermo while you were at it.  The again, it's just about winter and some heat is a good thing.

When I did mine, that's what my GOOD ones looked like.  How many miles are on yours?

»Jason

[96BlackRoseZ26]

Been there, done that!  Of course, now I'm wondering what kind of job I did because I have a little bit of the "seeping" you described.  Ehh, it's held together this long and I don't get antifreeze in the oil.  The engine does have 178K miles on it, so if anything else does happen to it, a 3400 is gonna find a new home in it's place.

[wicked-irocz]

maj, I havent put the thermostat housing back on yet.  My beretta hasnt moved in 4 months.  Im putting a 180* GM one in though.  My gaskets had 53,6xx miles on them.

[MAJ28]

Good call.

[Guest]

my beretta has 176K on it and im not even sure if any of the gaskets have been replaced. i kno i need to do it but i havent got the money.

[woody90gtz]

I keep going back and forth on changing my gaskets or swapping a 3400.

[wicked-irocz]

I figure that the gaskets have to be changed no matter what anyway so  

[IsaacHayes]

I did this the same time you did nov 05. Mine looked worse than that, and I've replaced them once at 110,000.

My friend who has a 96 lumina has original gaskets and his isn't leaking ANYTHING! He has 150,000 too. Lucky b*st*rd!

I went to GM when I got my gaskets this time. Not much improvement for the small port LIM gaskets, it's the larger port ones they updated the lower gaskets with metal to keep them from being smashed. Felpro now has all metal gaskets for both small port or large port motors too.

However, the dealership did give me an improved oil-pump drive shaft o-ring that is silicone so it won't leak as bad, AND gave me a gasket that goes around the top of it for extra sealing. Never had one of those on there before.

Now I'm seriously considering a intake swap. Not as good as a 3.4, but next best thing. I'll have more power than a 3100 large port style dispite smaller valves and no partial roller rockers, but not as much as a 3500. Probably equal out to about a 3400 straight up swap. It won't be as easy but I'm goign to do it.

My motor runs so freaking well stock as is, it's like a freak. So hopefully with new intakes it will be up there with a 3400 or better!!

[IsaacHayes]

forgot to add I'll be going with 3500 upper, 3400 lower intakes likely. Yes, custom work will have to be done...

I don't have the tools to do as straight up engine swap or much money right now. So instead of building "project pace car motor" I'm going to do bolt ons. My 3100 isn't dead yet, and it would be a shame to yank it anyways as I like it for being stock.

I'll do intake manifolds, and probably build a proper CAI as I like the v8 throaty sound it gives so much first. Later down the road I'll probably do the UDP and headers and 2.5" exhaust.

After that who knows, 3400 with cam and porting and polishing is all I can think of for NA.