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Doing LIM and Valve Cover Gaskets

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djimmy31

New member
Long time lurker first time poster. Awesome site.

I am going to be doing the LIM and Valve cover gaskets in the next few days and was curious what you guys use for sealant on the LIM at the 4 parts where the orange gasket meets the aluminium gasket? Also do you guys use any rtv or anything on the VG gaskets? I'm going to replace the plugs, wires, and tstat while I'm at it. Do you guys recommen anything else being replaced while everything is apart up top? I figure I will use autolite 104s and a 180 tstat. I hope thats alright on a stock gtp.

Thanks in advance

Jimmy
 


Nothing on the VC gaskets...just clean the crap out of the Covers when you take them off. As for the LIM gaskets...get some GM sealer IMO...white stuff if I remember right...yup...if you plan on modding Autolite 104's and a 180* T-Stat are good mods...so are a set of new stock wires ;)
 
It isn't hard to do...just make sure you take your time and have another car incase you have to take a trip back to the auto parts store lol
 
you might use some rtv on the bottom side of the valve covers... installed new gaskets and still leaked, took them off and added a little bit of rtv and no troubles since.
 
I did this a couple of weeks ago. A couple of things you might need if you haven't got them yet:

2 coolant elbows (the others will break when you remove them)
GM fuel line removal tool (about $8) it allows you to un-hook from the hard fuel line

Tim
 


I used nothing on the VC gaskets. Just make sure the channels and surfaces are clean and install dry. For the joints where all the LIM gaskets meet, use RTV. Put some above and below the joints. I've done it twice now that way and it's just fine.
 
Sabrewings said:
I used nothing on the VC gaskets. Just make sure the channels and surfaces are clean and install dry. For the joints where all the LIM gaskets meet, use RTV. Put some above and below the joints. I've done it twice now that way and it's just fine.
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Never thought about putting it on below...I just did some for a guy awhile back that had just bought a GTP and had no idea how to do it...I guess you do both sides just for extra reassurance?
 


bluegtp91 said:
Never thought about putting it on below...I just did some for a guy awhile back that had just bought a GTP and had no idea how to do it...I guess you do both sides just for extra reassurance?
Click to expand...

Yeah to make sure it seals all the way around the joint, and not just one side. When I tore it back apart for the top swap all four pieces of gasket held together when I pulled them off the engine.
 
minichopper6hp said:
ive even used just rtv in place of those valley gaskets before with no problem lol
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You're kidding right? Seriously? You didn't use the valley gaskets at all???

I know when mocking up my machined LIM and IC years ago, I place it on with just the intake gaskets and no valley gaskets and I remember there being a good gap in those areas IIRC. Granted it wasn't bolted or torqued down, I don't see those gaps closing that easily honeslty. You had to of used a **** load of RTV to seal that up.... good luck if you ever have bad vacuum problems, check there first.

Some motors don't use those valley gaskets and you use RTV in place, like some SBCs. But I'd say they are needed on a 3800 Series 2 IMO.

Not trying to get on to you or anything man, but I don't see how you made that work. All I can say is good luck.....
 
Sabrewings said:
Yeah to make sure it seals all the way around the joint, and not just one side. When I tore it back apart for the top swap all four pieces of gasket held together when I pulled them off the engine.
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I've always done it the same way too. Dab some on the joints, place your intake gaskets and valley gaskets, and put on another dab and you're good to go. Both times i've removed my LIM since just like Sabrewings said, my intake gaskets and valley gaskets remained in one piece when pulled off. This method works real good.

As for the valve cover gaskets i've always cleaned them up in the channels and on the heads, and installed them dry. Works for me....
 
minichopper6hp said:
eh not that much rtv actually. i use them currently though, you would be surprised what rtv can do...
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LOL ain't that the truth! Especially that Permetex Right Stuff ****... ever use that stuff? Disassembly is a *****, let me tell ya! I once had to pull an SC off with a nylon strap and a cherrypicker, damn M90 and SSIC was stuck on there so good a pry bar and a cheater pipe with my 240 weight didn't do a damn thing! LOL.

Never ever use that **** on soemthing you may disassemble again, trust me! LOL!
 


ive used it, was too cheap to buy the valve cover gaskets, ended up buying new valve covers the next time i had them off.
 
minichopper6hp said:
ive used it, was too cheap to buy the valve cover gaskets, ended up buying new valve covers the next time i had them off.
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Hahaha, You know the power of the "Right Stuff" too! :th_laugh-pointup:

I'll never use that stuff again... at least not on something thats mine or I like!
 
Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the input I will be tackling this project in the next week or so and will post the results!!

Thanks
 
I'm about to do this too, I'll be eager to see your comments post-surgery.

If you can, or if you want to, take some pics of your work and post them. May help someone else out that way. Dubob's video is great (from our PA Grand Prix Club), but sometimes close up pics can be even more helpful.
 
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