I think I have a lower intake manifold leak. So far it is just running down the right side of the manifold to the block where the cap is where the distributor would go, i think it is just the drive for the oil pump under the cap. Then onto the transmission, then to the ground.
I hear that the FEL PRO gasket is the best , has an aluminum insert in the center of the gasket.
Will I need a crowfoot for the one lower int bolt that looks like it is beneath one of the intake casting ?
What is good to remove the old gasket ? solvent, yes or no on a scrapper ?
In the oem manual is says to use RTV sealant on 2 places, is RTV sealant , silicon ? If it is I hate that stuff, any other suggestions. Since the sealant is put only on one side of the gasket could i use hi tack, that stuff that looks like strawberry jam ?
In the manual it says to tighten the valve rocker arm bolt down to xx ftlbs , then they have an electronic device that measures degrees, they say another 30 degrees, can i eyeball it ?
any other help, ?
how long does it take usually ?

 

Is it a standard SBC? RTV SILICONE is the only proper sealer to use. If it is, felpro is the best aftermarket gasket avalible. For the newer ones, liek the 3.1 and the 3.4 O.E.M. gaskets are the best.

 

Oh sorry I thought login LA1 would be enough. It is a 2003 LA1 3.4L. What is SBC ? oh wait , small block chevy ?I heard the opposit that the OEM gaskets were junk. What do you base this on that the OEMs are good OR why do you think they are better than felpro ?

 

...except for those OEM's that blew in the first place. Yeah I know the OEMreplacements are supposed to be better. Compare the price between the FelPro and OEM.

 

A friend of mine is a chevy mechanic and it took about 4-5 hours to do the job on my 2002 3.4L. Can't remember all the details on specific wrenches but most definately use the Felpro gaskets!

 

i did mine myself in my back yard, i barrowed a torque wrench and used a $12 socket set and a set of metric wrenches i allready had. here is a great tip... i took a bunch of close up pictures of where all the lines and wires ran before i took it apart. it took me about 3 hours and cost me about 70 bucks for gaskets and coolant. as for the felpro gaskets, i think they are pretty good they have a steel slug built into each end that makes it so you can reach proper torque without crushing the gasket

 

My '03 Impala (3.8L V6) had the same problem with the gaskets on the lower intake manifold. Given the well documented problems with the gaskets and Dex-cool as well as the class action settlements, it's worth opening a case with GM if the car is out of warranty. Anyhow, the dealer where I bought the car fixed it for me for $100.00 instead of $600.00.

I think the long intervals suggested in the owner's manual schedule are based more on the marketing department's motivation to show the car as cheap to operate. But we all know the chemistry for any coolant. They all breakdown over time and with use. Maybe I'm stuck in the '60s, but I change it two years/24K miles. It's just not good for the cooling system to neglect it.

 

Dex-cool has nothing to do with it. Just bad gaskets

 

Anyone notice this thread is over 2 years old. I bet the car has been fixed for a long time now.

 

I did , but you called it before me There has been a few of those the last few days. Dudes probably got a different car by now.