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GP Upper and Lower Intake Manifold Coolant Leaks

G

GPCharlie

New member
How many have done the done the retrofit of the Upper Intake Manifold along with replacing the Lower Intake Manifold gaskets and replacing the plastic bypass elbows with aluminum ones?
 


Many have.

It's a stock replacement, just buy the revised manifold from whoever.

Or are you talking about swapping on the aluminum L26 intake manifold? Because you can do that too.

Also; aluminum elbows are just as simple as replacing the stock plastic units.

If you're in there, might as well replace the lower intake gaskets too...and put in the metal ones instead of the plastic ones there to boot.
 
Thanks Bluguy, I've ordered the metal lower intake manifold gaskets. I only want to do this one time. Just looking for any tips from those that have experience doing this so it goes smoothly with no issues.
 
Before I start pulling anything apart when doing lim gaskets, I flush out the coolant first, so there's only water in there. Then pull the tstat housing/tstat, disconnect lower rad hose, stick my shop vac set to blow over the tstat housing and blow all the water that's left in the intake out. Didn't even change the oil afterward on the regal, not a drop of anything got into the valley. Good time to get the dex**** out if it's still in there and replace with real coolant.
 


99GT2dr said:
Before I start pulling anything apart when doing lim gaskets, I flush out the coolant first, so there's only water in there. Then pull the tstat housing/tstat, disconnect lower rad hose, stick my shop vac set to blow over the tstat housing and blow all the water that's left in the intake out. Didn't even change the oil afterward on the regal, not a drop of anything got into the valley. Good time to get the dex**** out if it's still in there and replace with real coolant.
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i had no shop vac, i pretty much did the same but pulled the dog bones, and pushed the engine back and fourth to drain the lim, i also had nothing leak out when i pulled the lim off and also did not do a a oil change after the fact.

i broke the plastic coolant elbow before un bolting the lim too, then you pop it free and then lift it up as level as you can. theres a small lip that will hold back the small amount left in the lim. but if you tip it one way or the other it can leak out easy.
 
A turkey baster can come in handy if you have no way to blow or vacuum the coolant out of the LIM.

If you do break the plastic elbows upon removal, make sure to peep in the holes and get rid of any bits that may have been left in there.

The original stovepipe in the LIM might be quite stubborn. Might need to give it a couple of taps, or just grab with pliers and go to town.
 


Okay, so now I need two of the 1/4 pipe plugs and need to check my tap set for the 1/4-18 NPT tap. Otherwise go and buy one of those too. What did you use on the threads of the plugs before you put them in the newly tapped holes?
 
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