Im Looking To Buy An 88 Vette, (just Sold My 77) With 17k Miles On It, When I Was Looking The Car Over I Saw Coolant At The Front And Rear Edge Of Intake Manifold Where It Meets The Cyl. Head Is This A Common Problem To These Engines? Looks Like Intake Gasket Has Failed. Any Help Would Be Great.

 

It is somewhat common. It is a semi tough job. First time took me 9 hrs. I would probably do it in 6 hrs now.

 

It could also be something else leaking and pooling on the manifold, such as the bypass hose, thermostat housing, etc.

 

Definitely something to consider when negotiating. Fixable? Yes. If you're handy with tools and using the manual it's do-able.

Art

 

If you can do it yourself you will save alot of money. If you can't you have to end up paying someone to do it. Discuss that in the price.

 

Sounds like an intake manifold leak to me. A mechanic will charge between $600-700 to fix it.

It took me 15 hours (3 hours just to remove the old gasket from the runners and bottom of intake manifold) including cleaning the garage and a quick lunch.

 

It seems to be a common ailment on L98's. Mine needed replacing when I bought it last year. It's not that tough of a job, I did mine over a weekend, taking time to wash all parts and paint them as I went.

 

Yes, it is common and I replaced the gasket on my 86E for the same reason. Takes most of a day to replace (alot depends on if you clean everyting good). I say they should knock about $500 off the price and it should take about $50 +/- if you do it yourself.

 

not rare, but most have no problem....coming from a 77 to a tpi will cause you to praise the guys that designed the tpi, but it gets much easier after the first time...use the $20 intake gasket set and the problem is history

 

my gasket was a couple of months old and for some reason started leaking on me so i guess i have to dive back in or put a 383 in hmm. torx bits are the pits i would replace them the bits go to craps fast while putting under torque

 

Fairly common - at least common enough for GM to issue a Bulletin in November '89 with a redesign of the heads (none made it into production until '91). Those and current production cylinder heads are counterbored at the front and rear intake bolt holes for gasket retainers. The retainers keep the intake manifold gaskets from slipping when you lay in the manifold and supposedly stop the leak problem. Haven't had one since I switched, but then you never know. The correct gaskets for this design can be difficult to find - most of the aftermarket caters to the F-Body and ZZ4 crate motors which don't use the coolant restrictors at the rear of the manifold. Fixing yours is simply a matter of unbolting parts and correctly installing some new gaskets (and making sure they stay in place when the manifold goes on). Get all the old crap off and don't bang on the plenum runners with anything (which you might be tempted to do if you don't take off the 2 retaining bolts which are somewhat hidden on the back side of each of the runners). Also, line up the distributor with #1 before you remove it and put a mark on the manifold as to where that is. It won't run very well if you put it back a tooth off.

 

If you have the intake off it might be a good time to change out the injectors and maybe port the runners and plenum.