New GTP problems.
- Thread starter Booba5185
- Start date
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
you just need to clean the gaskets off real good then. it gets baked on good on the tb side by the coolant ports.
if you have the time you may want to mod the lim while your at it.
if you have the time you may want to mod the lim while your at it.
Booba5185
New member
Yesterday car seemed to run fantastic, smooth idle, plenty of power, etc. SES was on. Today, SES turns off and it's back to a rough idle and had a hard time starting once. I just bought the intake manifold gaskets, so I think I am going to go ahead and change them, just so I know they have been changed and I can see the inside of the engine to get an idea of what kind of shape its in. Also put a new gas cap on just to make sure it wasn't the cause of the P0440 code I got randomly. Old gas cap looked pretty bad.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
you did order the metal gaskets right? for the intake.
if you look where the lim meets the head, you can see the old gasket in there, they are quite thick, if you see black, its the old gaskets, silver, you have the new metal gaskets.
metal lim gaskets.
and this is all you see with the lim off. all you can really tell is if the oil has been changed regularly by how black, or golden it looks. mine is black, aka abused by failing to change the oil by the last owners.
you'll note the elbow is snapped off, i broke it so i could lift the lim off level, so you dont spill any coolant in the valley.
if you look where the lim meets the head, you can see the old gasket in there, they are quite thick, if you see black, its the old gaskets, silver, you have the new metal gaskets.
metal lim gaskets.
and this is all you see with the lim off. all you can really tell is if the oil has been changed regularly by how black, or golden it looks. mine is black, aka abused by failing to change the oil by the last owners.
you'll note the elbow is snapped off, i broke it so i could lift the lim off level, so you dont spill any coolant in the valley.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
channel lock pliers grip and snap it. those were new elbows too, but better then coolant in the valley, i did my lim months ago, not a drop spilled, and i literally just changed my oil 60 miles ago as it was due finally.
the lim has a lip at the coolant ports so a small amount of coolant will be trapped in the lim. i also pulled both dog bones, and the lower rad hose off the engine and pushed the engine as far as i could, and then pulled it forward as far as it would go as well, to drain as much out of the lim, ( did this a few times, till nothing came out the water pump) then started taking it apart, that way it has even more time to drain out.
when you pull the lower hose, wedge it up so the rad dont drain, unless you want to or need to flush your coolant. if you need to flush it, flush it first, leave it just water, drain it, then do the lim job. refill the rad with 1 gallon of straight antifreeze, not the 50/50 stuff and top it off with water. follow with the bleed out of air as well. or you can fill it up from the t stat, then put it back on. its still a good idea to bleed the air, you may still have some in there.
dont worry about just dropping a gallon of coolant in the rad, it will all mix on its own in the rad and engine. been doing it this way for over 20 years. never had a problem.
the lim has a lip at the coolant ports so a small amount of coolant will be trapped in the lim. i also pulled both dog bones, and the lower rad hose off the engine and pushed the engine as far as i could, and then pulled it forward as far as it would go as well, to drain as much out of the lim, ( did this a few times, till nothing came out the water pump) then started taking it apart, that way it has even more time to drain out.
when you pull the lower hose, wedge it up so the rad dont drain, unless you want to or need to flush your coolant. if you need to flush it, flush it first, leave it just water, drain it, then do the lim job. refill the rad with 1 gallon of straight antifreeze, not the 50/50 stuff and top it off with water. follow with the bleed out of air as well. or you can fill it up from the t stat, then put it back on. its still a good idea to bleed the air, you may still have some in there.
dont worry about just dropping a gallon of coolant in the rad, it will all mix on its own in the rad and engine. been doing it this way for over 20 years. never had a problem.
Booba5185
New member
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I have these: Fel-Pro MS95977-1 - Intake Manifold Gasket Set | O'Reilly Auto Parts
I need to find a coolant elbow replacement then. Anyone have a part number? I'm in a small town so I am limited to Oreilly's pretty much.
I need to find a coolant elbow replacement then. Anyone have a part number? I'm in a small town so I am limited to Oreilly's pretty much.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
wrong set.
i got a ac delco set from rock auto 43 shipped. came in like 4 days. also found a discount code for rock auto, got like 3 bucks off, so it came to free shipping in the end.
i got a ac delco set from rock auto 43 shipped. came in like 4 days. also found a discount code for rock auto, got like 3 bucks off, so it came to free shipping in the end.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
the metal ones will say metal, and shine like metal. rock auto has pics too.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
the elbows, look in the help section at the parts store for dorman elbows, you get 2 a lower one, and upper one, you will only need to use the top one.
Booba5185
New member
These then? Fel-Pro MS98014T - Intake Manifold Gasket Set | O'Reilly Auto Parts
They look to be metal. I can probably get Oreilly's to price match Rock Auto's price of $48.99.
They look to be metal. I can probably get Oreilly's to price match Rock Auto's price of $48.99.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
thats a nice set, they have all the injector O rings and stuff, yes those will do the trick.
Booba5185
New member
Alright, got that set, a new plenum gasket, and a new throttle body gasket. I'm thinking that since block the TB coolant holes don't make much if any difference, I'll leave them. I will open up that port on the end of the intake though. I figure it'll have plenty of flow that way.
Booba5185
New member
Successful day, I was rained out before I could finish, but I am CLOSE. Lifter valley is a little cruddy, but not bad for 230,000 miles. It's cleaner now, but I'll be running cleaner through the oil changes for some time. Pics:
Cleaned the underside of the Supercharger, left the rotors alone:
Lifter valley and new gaskets waiting for lower intake:
Top of lower intake:
Bottom of lower intake:
I didn't take pics of the coolant holes, but you get the idea:
Here's where I left off for the night. All but 2 sensor are connected, fuel rail is installed, etc. All that I have left for the most parts is replacing the coolant elbows, put the CAI back on, install alternator, put belts on, put on a few various brackets, actually connect the spark plugs in the right spots, and fluids. I think. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Here's the old gasket, from what I can see it was bad in a few areas...
I didn't spend too much time cleaning the valve covers because I'll be cleaning them up when I replacing the gaskets when I install some different rockers. As long as weather permits, I'll finish her up tomorrow.
Cleaned the underside of the Supercharger, left the rotors alone:
Lifter valley and new gaskets waiting for lower intake:
Top of lower intake:
Bottom of lower intake:
I didn't take pics of the coolant holes, but you get the idea:
Here's where I left off for the night. All but 2 sensor are connected, fuel rail is installed, etc. All that I have left for the most parts is replacing the coolant elbows, put the CAI back on, install alternator, put belts on, put on a few various brackets, actually connect the spark plugs in the right spots, and fluids. I think. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Here's the old gasket, from what I can see it was bad in a few areas...
I didn't spend too much time cleaning the valve covers because I'll be cleaning them up when I replacing the gaskets when I install some different rockers. As long as weather permits, I'll finish her up tomorrow.
Last edited:
Skip the cleaner and just run Pennzoil and change the oil after 2000 miles a couple times. Should clean it right up.
There's less risk in removing it slower. If you remove it quickly chunks can dislodge and clog passages or the oil pickup.
Did the SC gasket kit not come with the end cap gasket?
There's less risk in removing it slower. If you remove it quickly chunks can dislodge and clog passages or the oil pickup.
Did the SC gasket kit not come with the end cap gasket?
Booba5185
New member
It did, but I waited until the lower intake was back on to open the SC gasket box, lol. Teach me to read the contents list, I cut a gasket out of the DIY gasket paper for nothing. I'll change the oil to Pennzoil tomorrow and see how it goes. I had milk shake on the front head, in the coolant passage between the 1 and 3 intake runner, but everywhere else was very clean, and the antifreeze I drained out was green(as was the flush I did 2 weeks ago). All in all, this thing is really easy to work on, I'm impressed and happy.
Oh yea, I installed a new ECT (3rd one) while the intake was off, as well. I cleaned EVERY connection on the engine harness so I know every sensor has a good clean connection.
Oh yea, I installed a new ECT (3rd one) while the intake was off, as well. I cleaned EVERY connection on the engine harness so I know every sensor has a good clean connection.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
looks kinda sludgy in the lim valley. nice job tho.
oh the buggers in the head coolant ports are old dex sludge crap, i think everyone pulls some nice chunks out, i know i did.
oh the buggers in the head coolant ports are old dex sludge crap, i think everyone pulls some nice chunks out, i know i did.