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Manifold Gasket Replacement... Questions

brownb66

brownb66

New member
Okay... So in two weeks I am going to be doing the intake manifold gasket replacement. The questions I have (and please feel free to give me your input as well) are to get me more prepared so hopefully I won't have to go to the store during the repair.

Since the end of last year my 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP has been leaking coolant little by little and I know for a fact that it is the intake manifold. My oil hasn't been effected at all and I think the engine hasn't really gotten any coolant inside of it. Anyway I know that this needs to be fixed so here I am. My questions are as follows...

Should I purchase the fel pro gasket set from napa? I know that I want aluminum instead of plastic (I wouldn't be here if GM mighta done that off the bat) Here's the link. Store Locator | NAPA Online

When I am cleaning the intake manifold and where the gasket goes can I just use brake cleaner to spray it down with?

While I have everything ripped apart is there anything else I should worry about replacing?

I know that everyone has burned this subject over and over again but I just wanna make sure I do everything like I'm suppossed to becuz my car doesn't deserve any less :) Also I don't have 1400 bucks to have a mechanic do it... Thanks in advance for your help! :)
 


brownb66 said:
Okay... So in two weeks I am going to be doing the intake manifold gasket replacement. The questions I have (and please feel free to give me your input as well) are to get me more prepared so hopefully I won't have to go to the store during the repair.

Since the end of last year my 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP has been leaking coolant little by little and I know for a fact that it is the intake manifold. My oil hasn't been effected at all and I think the engine hasn't really gotten any coolant inside of it. Anyway I know that this needs to be fixed so here I am. My questions are as follows...

Should I purchase the fel pro gasket set from napa? I know that I want aluminum instead of plastic (I wouldn't be here if GM mighta done that off the bat) Here's the link. Store Locator | NAPA Online

When I am cleaning the intake manifold and where the gasket goes can I just use brake cleaner to spray it down with?

While I have everything ripped apart is there anything else I should worry about replacing?

I know that everyone has burned this subject over and over again but I just wanna make sure I do everything like I'm suppossed to becuz my car doesn't deserve any less :) Also I don't have 1400 bucks to have a mechanic do it... Thanks in advance for your help! :)
Click to expand...

Get the GM lower intake manifold gasket. The new one is aluminum and it is the best one available.

Use a gasket scraper to clean the old gasket off. Do not use brake clean on the top of the engine or some of it will puddle in the bottom of your crankcase. Brake clean in your oil is not a good thing.

While that is ripped apart, it is a good time to do the valve cover gaskets. They are lot more accessible with everything else out of the way. Don't forget the coolant elbows either. They frequently break when you take them out.
 
Yes you can get the aluminum gaskets from napa. Scrape the old gaskets off. Coolant elbows like to break.
 
The coolant elbows, especially the one right at the intake manifold is notorious for breaking at the o-ring and leaking coolant.

I recently replaced both my upper and lower intake gaskets as well as the upper manifold (plenum) and both coolant elbows. I used brake clean and carb cleaner sprayed on rag to clean the mating surfaces so that I didn't let it run into the engine. (Wear some type of rubber gloves to protect your hands) I also sanded all of the gasket surfaces carefully to make them as smooth as I could. There will be some pitting and build up. You must be careful not to make the mating surfaces uneven so you get a good seal when you put it all back together. I used 320 and 400 wet or dry. The only problem here is that wet or dry sand paper doesn't hold up well when you spray it with brake clean. I also cleaned all the build up from the throttle body.

I purchased the upper intake that came with gasket, fuel injector and fuel rail o-rings, new PCV valve online for about half of what it costs in the local parts stores. Brand was Dorman.

One more thing. I kept my old wet vac handy to suck up anything that I didn't want to fall into the engine. I also cut a piece of cardboard to cover the top of the block when the lower intake was removed to help keep dirt and by-products from my sanding and cleaning from falling into that area.

No more coolant or oil leaks and it runs like a champ!
 
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i just used a gasket scraper and some synthetic steel wool
i used a drill and bottle brush for the injector boss's
super glue is good to have on hand i helped a member on here and vacuum lines get brittle glue is a quick fix
after all is taken off the top end uim lim and suck i rinse thr valley with a couple quarts cheap dino oil
 
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