My LT4 has an intake gasket leak. Its got 16k miles, the guy i bought it from had it garaged most of the time so the intake gasket went. What is a good price and can i bring it to a regular mechanic or should i bring it to the vette place where i usually get raped at? Think the vette place was gonna charge around $500-600, but that was a rough quote. 4-6hours labor + parts.
vr,
Volt :eek:

 

Why not replace it yourself. It's not very difficult and you would learn alot about your car by doing it. I'm sure people on the forum could talk you through it if you needed help. I really isn't worth paying someone to do unless you just can't do it.

 

Yeah! It'll put hair on yer chest.
If you go about it methodically, it will be 1-2-3 cake. I used to be afraid of my top end. thinking about it was worse than actually doing it. I've done it lots of times now.

 

Get yourself a service manual and do it yourself! It is a very rewarding experience and you'll save some money in the process. If you plan the entire job, it'll only take you a day in the garage (took me about three hours my first and only time). I know that if I had to do it again, it would be about half of that time. Good luck! :)

 

I would probably try it with my chevelle, but it looks like you have to take out half the engine to get to this one on the 96. It looks like the alternator and AC compressor is in the way also and some aluminum 1/4 lines(unless you go under them). I'd be afraid i couldnt get it back together again, unless its not as hard as it looks...? :eek:

 

It'll cost you about $30.00 and some time. Which includes, gaskets, a gallon of anti-freeze, tube of sensor safe silicone, bottle of anti-seize.

As already recommended, get a service manual and have at it. If you're a little nervous, get a friend who's auto-handy to give you a hand.

Jake

 

hmmm......$30....$600.00 $30....$600.00 ....tough decision. hmm, I have lots of time, im married...hahaha

Ok, ill get the service manual and take a look.
vr,
Volt :eek:

 

It will cost you a little more than $30 but go for it. Make sure you get the GMPP intake gaskets PN#12367777. They are about $15 each from 18carfan.

 

Also.....

Always change the oil when you open up the engine like that.

 

It's not a hard job at all to to the intake gaskest on a LT1-4. There is not as much as you think has to come off. I could do one in about 1 1/2 hours. It's one of the easier motors to work on.

 

I agree.

The dealer fixed mine the first time under warranty. It started leaking oil again, so I pulled the intake manifold with the intention of just fixing the leak and replacing the gasket with the bigger #12367777 model. Then things took a turn after that. I told myself as long as its this much apart, it not much more work to pull the heads and get them ported.....

Two weeks later and with much improved heads, I put the engine back together. My only mistake was using an old tube of GM RTV that did not seal up the manifold. I had to redo the intake again the following week. Only took about 3 hours to do the whole thing while watching football half the time.

The most concerning thing is unplugging all the sensors and remembering where they all go. Not bad at all since the plugs are all different and the wiring harness only goes a certain way.

Just make sure you lay down a good bead of about 3/8" after making the mating parts squeaky clean. The fuel injectors come off all in one unit and you just lay them on the windshield (put a towel down first). Very easy job overall.

 

Well, here's how I came up with the $30.

I've had my intake off lots of times and last weekend I installed a new cam, so these costs are current.

Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal intake manifold gaskets $10.00 from AutoZone
One gallon of anti-freeze (may not be needed) $ 6.00 from AutoZone
One tube of Silicone Sealant $ 4.00 from AutoZone
New upper and lower plenum and runner gaskets $12.00 from O'Reilly's
Water Pump gaskets $ 2.00 from O'Reilly's

Total $34.00

Yea, I guess I was wrong.

Jake

 

do i need to replace the water pump gasket ? or was that for the job you were doing?
vr,
Volt :eek:

 

No, you won't have to pull the water pump just to get the intake manifold off.

I was changing cams, so I had t pull mine and needed new gaskets.

Jake

 

It looks like the alternator bracket on the front driver side is in the way of taking off the valve covers, or does it just slide around it?

Again, thanks for all the help. I'm thinking about picking the parts up today.

Any special gaskets I should get? Any better than others?
vr,
Volt :chevy

 

I have this same thing going on right now but I can't tell exactly where it is leaking from, just that I get a puddle of oil on the floor of my garage and the best I can see its the back of the intake. Or is the oil sending unit back there? They always leaked on my Irocs?!?

Let me know how it goes as I may attempt it myself also. My local Chevy dealer priced me at $350.00. I would rather put that in mo' power parts!

James

 

Some of the LT4 guys will have to help you with all the specific stuff, I've got an L98 and it's different.

Many times, once the valve cover is unbolted, it can moved backwards then lifted in the front to clear the alternator bracket, then completely removed.

You know, the hardest part of the whole job is figuring out how to get the thing apart and which tool is needed to do what.

You only need hand tools, metric and SAE sockets, ratchets, torx head sockets, screwdrivers, etc., but just figuring out the correct angle to get to some of them can be a real PIA.

Funny thing is that after you've done it the first time, any other time thereafter will be a piece of cake.

I'll send you a file on how seal the new gasket up so it won't leak on you in the future.

Jake


[Modified by JAKE, 3:08 PM 4/7/2002]

 

This is piece of cake...just take a good look at all the wires/sensors/hoses-make a diagram to make it idiot (me) proof if you would like.

LT1/4's are much, much easier than L98 that JAKE is referring to.

Matter of fact if you do or have done the TB bypass, you don't even have to mess with any of the coolant system! Only coolant is in the Throttle Body (TB)!

You will need the 7777 gaskets (2), and RTV sealer (I prefer the Hi Temp Black Permatex).

The valve covers do not have to be disturbed nor does the TB need to be removed (I do though to clean it-new gasket is 10105379). I also installed new set of injector orings-about 4 bucks for all 16 from an injector place-I'm sure Chevy has them too).

Unhook everything and remove the intake. Clean everything with final wipe of brakecleaner (or some cleaner) and lay some rtv on the manifold ends and at the junctures to the intake gaskets (corners only) and install the intake-as straight as you can. Tight bolts in correct pattern to 35 ft/pds and let it sit for atleast a day for the RTV to cure. I think most people believe this step is skipped by most dealers and leak returns-I think so as well.

Mine leaked when purchased-I fixed it and never came back.:)

Money in your pocket :D

Another note is to clean the area around the intake very well-either use air or like me block the front of the engine off (dry optispark) and gunk/water blast rearward the intake/head junction. Otherwise stuff falls into engine.

 

thanks Jake, i appreciate it :) :cheers:

 

Thanks No Go, my buddy has a torque wrench he will let me borrow, so I should be ok, and yes, I will definately let it sit for a day,I would be pissed if it leaked after all that work..hehe
vr,
Volt :eek: :cheers: