Sort-of intake manifold gasket topic

[ehntoo]

So, I just inherited my sister's 1997 Lumina, fluid leaks and all.

 

After replacing the rear brakes and fuel tank, I can stop, and it holds gas.

The engine has 208,000 miles on it, and is still running surprisingly well.

 

But the intake manifolds are visibly leaking, so I now need to replace the gaskets, or from what I've read here, the coolant will soon be leaking into the oil and I'm going to spin a bearing or worse.

 

Additional service I'll be performing in the next 2 weeks:

Changing the (most likely original) transmission fluid and filter.

Flushing the cooling system really well (it's full of dex-cool sludge)

 

I'm not worried about it at the moment, but when driving, I notice a dull clunking from the rear left wheel. I'm guessing it's a bad strut, but could someone confirm that?

 

Is there anything you guys think I need to be aware of?

 

By the way, this is my first post, and also my first car. Hopefully it'll serve me somewhat well.

[Crazy K]

get FEL-PRO PERMASEAL metal gaskets for your intake. that is all.

[White93z34]

change our oil before you run the car, then run it for a little and change it again.

[19Cutlass94]

while your chainging the gaskets, change the oil pump drive o-ring.

[89SupremeCutty]

So, I just inherited my sister's 1997 Lumina, fluid leaks and all.

 

After replacing the rear brakes and fuel tank, I can stop, and it holds gas.

The engine has 208,000 miles on it, and is still running surprisingly well.

 

But the intake manifolds are visibly leaking, so I now need to replace the gaskets, or from what I've read here, the coolant will soon be leaking into the oil and I'm going to spin a bearing or worse.

 

Additional service I'll be performing in the next 2 weeks:

Changing the (most likely original) transmission fluid and filter.

Flushing the cooling system really well (it's full of dex-cool sludge)

 

I'm not worried about it at the moment, but when driving, I notice a dull clunking from the rear left wheel. I'm guessing it's a bad strut, but could someone confirm that?

 

Is there anything you guys think I need to be aware of?

 

By the way, this is my first post, and also my first car. Hopefully it'll serve me somewhat well.

 

the dull clunking, did you notice it after you finished the brakes? does it happen only when you apply them? i have that problem on the RR when i apply the brakes. it happened after i put new drums on and adjusted them.

[ehntoo]

the dull clunking, did you notice it after you finished the brakes? does it happen only when you apply them? i have that problem on the RR when i apply the brakes. it happened after i put new drums on and adjusted them.

It was happening before I changed the brakes and it's still happening now.  It's happening when I drive down bumpy roads, although it doesn't clunk over every bump, which I find odd.

 

change our oil before you run the car, then run it for a little and change it again.

That's after changing the intake manifold gaskets?

 

while your chainging the gaskets, change the oil pump drive o-ring.

I had forgotten about that.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=FEL&MfrPartNumber=419

That would be the right o-ring for the job, right?

 

I also, as it turns out, need new spark plug wires.  As I was pulling one off to check a plug yesterday, the snap terminal that's supposed to be crimped to the end of the wire came off on the end of the plug.  I may as well put in new plugs while I'm at it.

 

Does anyone have a reason not to use plain copper NGK TR55's?

[LuminaPower92]

change our oil before you run the car, then run it for a little and change it again.

That's after changing the intake manifold gaskets?

Yes, because of any crap that might get into there, its a good safety precaution.

[Brian P]

The NGK TR55's are an excellent inexpensive plug!