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01 grandprix Lim gasket time!!! :(

C

chevy350

New member
01 gp....Non supercharged 3800


I have never did this, but I did a few lower gaskets on 3100 engines. So I think I'll be fine.
I have found good info and write ups on it.

Mine is leaking right above the front valve cover and coolant sits in the little holes that the upper intake bolts go through. I initially thought it was the upper gasket but it doesn't seem to leak from there.


I will change the lower and upper gaskets, and elbows, even though I just changed them.
I take it the felpro metal gaskets or the ac delco metal gaskets are pretty much equal.


My only question is, is the upper intake reusable? If its not cracked or leaking? If its not reusable is there a particular one to get I'v seen a Dorman for 70.00 and a atp for $150.00 and a few in between.
 


I reused mine . The intake itself not the gasket . Just check it's not warped . Possibly time to switch to the metal upper intake also
 
Utter99 said:
I reused mine . The intake itself not the gasket . Just check it's not warped . Possibly time to switch to the metal upper intake also
Click to expand...


Thanks Ill check to make sure its still good. I heard about the metal upper intake, not quite sure I want to try an fabricate it though, maybe one day.
 
Thanks great tips. I just changed my throttle gasket and it was no coolant in the uim...at the time. The area around the stovepipe was intact also, at the time...


So all I would need is 1/4" NPT tap...... http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-pipe-tap-die-set-91395.html.
and

2- 1/4" NPT pipe plugs? from a hardware store ? Example.... Search: 1/4" NPT pipe plug | Tubing Cap and Plug | AutoZone.com


Is the opening up the area behind the endcap on the LIM a must, if I plug the passages off?
 


you dont have to hog that side cover area out if you dont want too.

it will allow better coolant flow to the rest of the engine tho.
 
It's not imperative to hog that out if you plug the holes. What it does is helps the front/rear heads stay closer in temperature. It's known that the rear head can and will get hotter. This helps that issue.
 
I was searching around I found write ups and videos on changing the gaskets but none mentioned torque. Anyone know where I can find the torque measurement and torque sequence for the lower and upper manifold bolts on this motor?
 
Doing mine now on my gtp you just got to dive in after you read up as much as you can and the watch a lot of videos the day before a few times over so you remember the process it will be fun take time to clean it all up when your down there I'm outside right now taking a break then going to pur it back together
 


Yeah I'm looking to start, mine on Monday, Iv watched a few videos and read a few write ups..good luck!!! I'm going to plug my throttle coolant passage as well.

@Chuck I think the lower manifold bolts are 132 in pounds not 100% sure... I think I heard that on a video I saw.
 
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just make the lim bolts good and snug really, if you torque them to much they will snap. and i think i did 13 inch lbs with metal gaskets, plastic are 11 iirc.

no idea what the upper intake should be for a n/a motor.

dont forget the thread sealant on the lim bolts, so they dont leak down the road. clean the old crap off, then re paste them and install.
 
IMG_0718intakegasket.jpg
Here's one of the lower gaskets, it was cracked in a few places. I ended up taking off the serpentine belt assembly, might as well change the rear valve cover while I'm in there. I din't see much coolant in the engine though, hopefully most was leaking on the outside of the engine.

So much carbon though its going to be a long clean up process.
 
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