Thread: LIM Gasket this weekend, got a parts list & a few questions

Previous owner was mysteriously losing coolant but no leaks... I am thinking it must be the LIM gasket. Parts list:

LIM gasket set ( I got felpro - they look like a really thick heavy duty plastic)
Valve cover gaskets with grommets
Supercharger gasket
Injector O Rings
RTV sealant
TB Gasket (maybe)

I have the LIM gasket kit and the valve cover gaskets but have to pickup the rest. I figure while I am in there why not do a few other things?

Plugs - more room?
Wires - more room?
Change supercharger oil
Coolant Elbows
Thermostat

The car has had the recall on the infamous GTP suicidal fire tendency, if that recall was done was there anything in the above list that would have already been replaced & that I could ignore?

Was also thinking of porting blower (backyard mechanic style) - how long do this take?
Anything else? Would headers be ultra easy at that point?

You got the wrong gaskets if they are plastic. You need the metal LIM gaskets by Fel-Pro or GM.

Definitely do new coolant elbows, I seen that it in your maybe list.

Pretty much all of your questions will be a lot easier since you will have half the motor tore apart.

If you have the money and want to mod, go ahead and do headers and whatnot.

I've always been told, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Originally Posted by brandonl2000

You got the wrong gaskets if they are plastic. You need the metal LIM gaskets by Fel-Pro or GM.

Definitely do new coolant elbows, I seen that it in your maybe list.

Why are the wrong? They are Fel-pro and were not the cheap option. I also had these laying around from my last gtp so I need to use them. Do the plastic ones grenade in 5,000 km's or something?

the plastic gaskets suck, use the metal ones. they fail thats why GM started to use the metal ones.

Well if you plan to keep it, you're shooting yourself in the foot by putting in plastic ones. When you pull the old gaskets off, you will then understand why I said get the metal ones. That way you don't have to do it again.
something like this...or worse. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...y/100_4448.jpg

if your doing a lim, do the valve covers too, its just the thing to do, if you are that deep, do them.

You'll want to change the coolant elbows as they'll probably crack when pulling them out (or the o-rings will be shot).

Might as well do the plugs while you're in there. S/c oil doesn't matter as much. Thermostat.. up to you. Put a 180 in there.

Just a note. Take off the t-stat housing and stick your wet/dry vac in the hole there and suck out all the coolant (or as much as you can) before pulling the LIM.

After you put it all back together, DRAIN THE FOIL and replace you filter before adding new oil and starting the car. Even though you sucked most of the coolant out, some will drip into the valley and into the pan.

Morning all...

On your maybe list. Do it all if you want to, then leave the T stat housing off and fill the LIM through there before putting the T stat in place. It'll help you a ton on bleeding the system of air.

The plastic gasket frames tend to bow inward to the coolant ports and intake ports in as little as 5-10K miles. Before metal ones were available, I did a set changed the coolant etc etc and then modded in about 8K miles and the gaskets were bowing inward already. Your choice..the suggestion is aluminum framed. It's the once and done option.

On your LIM bolts. Clean them and use a sealant on them when reassembling.

also ..as long as you have the coolant drained. Depending on year and mileage..consider doing the hoses. Most of us don't do them, but they aren't magical and can blow etc. It's wise to swap them out at some point around 100-150K

Valve cover gaskets. Only the front gasket is covered under the warranty work. And most of the time the grommets aren't replaced. So I'd do them both with fresh grommets while in there.

Do the TB gasket and pick up a can of TB cleaner. It's bad to run that stuff through a charger. I have the peeling rotor pictures to prove it. So clean it off the car.

Also, you are going to be pulling the fuel injectors and rail. I would suggest changing the fuel injector o-rings. And the fuel line o-rings are a must in my book!

Update - not a lot of free time so pulling car apart as I have time, I am down to the LIM now, a$$loads of coolant. Here is the parts list I am about to oull trigger on:



Lower Intake Gasket $54.99
Lower Intake O-Rings $4.99
Supercharger Gaskets Option 1: Garlock L67Option $11.99
Coolant Elbows Upper and LowerStore: $9.99
Serpentine Belts $30.99
HID Conversion Kit Option 1: 6kOption 2: 9007 CobaltOption 3: Full kitAdd On: Add HD harness upgradeStore: $84.99 (hehe)
Autolite Spark Plugs Option 1: 103's $12.00
ZZP Supercharger Oil $10.00
Injector O-Rings - 2 packs $9.98
Throttle Body Gaskets $14.99 (not sure I need the rubber one?)

Anything else? I am leaning towards hoping the stock lifters will quiet down once the LIM is replaced. They were very loud at times.

Anything else? What are the metal pieces sticking up on the LIM? Locator pin of some type? How many should I have?

Couple things. I would stay away from the Garlock gaskets. They don't seal as well as the stock ones and you end up having to RTV the crap out of them to get them to seal. Stick with stock.

I believe the Intake gaskets should include o-rings. At least the Felpro set that I bought from the local parts store did.

Autolite 103 spark plugs are too cold. If you are stock stick with stock plugs. AL605 if you want to go with copper.