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At 170K, She decided to take a leak.... Now Large Port Top Swap Thread!!


BXX

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Driving home up I71 this morning just outside of Ashland I lost heat really quick. Next thing I know, the low coolant light pops on and she started misfiring a decent amount..

 

I quickly pulled over, popped the hood. Radiator cap was ice cold and there was no cooling system pressure. Intake gaskets were puking out. They lasted 170042 miles and werent seeping any, they just went out with a bang.

 

I still gotta take her to work monday and use our block test fluid, I have a hunch its a rupured headgasket too. But its hard to tell on a 17degree morning whether the 'smoke' coming outta the radiator was just the oil/coolant mix or exhaust gas.

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That sucks, hope you get it fixed.

 

But you're telling me with all the knowledge you tout that you have you haven't ever touched the intake gaskets just as preventative maintenance?

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That sucks, hope you get it fixed.

 

But you're telling me with all the knowledge you tout that you have you haven't ever touched the intake gaskets just as preventative maintenance?

 

Yup... Wanna know why. The TGP took over as top priority. The intake gaskets actually showed NO signs of even seeping. I even just did an oil change at the shop earlier this week and checked for any residue on the inside of the valve cover, PCV and anything in the coolant.. Nothing..

 

They just fricken blew straight out. Kinda odd, but it does happen. The cold spell the past 2 days I guarentee didnt help with the high amount of expansion and contraction...

 

 

Well, I suppose I better get my large port setup nice and clean. Its gotta go on next weekend.. I will just be using the cheap gaskets as all it needs to last is another 30K. At 200K the engine gets pulled for a 3500

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Well good luck dude.

 

Hopefully things aren't too fubared.

 

Yeah, I had to drive 42 miles with them blown out

 

On another side, nothing in the crankcase that amounts to anything. Still nice and clean and level is the same. I think its dumping into an intake port a bit causing my miss..

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Well, this is now gonna turn into a 3400 large port top swap thread :lol:

 

If im gonna go through all this work (well, its not too much work really..lol) i'll be damned if im not gonna get some HP in the process..

 

Parts will be ordered prolly friday

 

Intake Gasket Kit

A/C Bypass Pulley

New Water Pump

New Thermostat

W-body Store 2.5" downpipe

MMS Allen Head UIM Bolts

New Coil Packs

 

I should do a water pump since the one on it im 99% sure its original. The A/C compressor bearing has been bad since I got the car, its gotten worse causing a drag on the engine. Cat is pretty damn clogged, so a W-Body Store DP will correct that.

 

Im prolly gonna order the Dorman Intake Kit from Advance Auto. It comes with the metal gaskets and even new bolts :mrgreen: Its only like $65 too!!!

 

Im gonna toss in my new plugs I've had in the garage for over a year, and at 170K, sounds like a good time to install new coil packs.

 

Will just have to see how things go. The engine has to last 10 miles over the next week to get me to work before I have time to do the gaskets. Right now the coolant is so low in the radiator, it wont pressurize the system and cause coolant to leak, nor is my drive long enough to even get the engine anywhere near overheating..

 

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Well, it does and doesnt. 170K is a great deal of mileage for them to go. Most happen around 40-80K.

 

Does gimme an exuse to spend some money and get some more HP :lol:

 

Im still gonna check for a headgasket issue tomorrow though. Cause if its bad, I think im just gonna keep driving it to work and go fetch a 3400 from pull a part

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fetch me one too?

 

a 3400... Sure, you would have to pick it up, in NE Ohio :lol: 6 cylinder engines run appx $170

 

You said you where on your way to work right?

 

42 miles?!

 

No, I was on my way home from Mansfield after visiting my friends and family. Im from Mansfield but live in Brunswick with my GF

 

I only work appx 1 mile from home.. Takes me about 2 minutes, 3 if I hit the light :lol:

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fetch me one too?

 

a 3400... Sure, you would have to pick it up, in NE Ohio :lol: 6 cylinder engines run appx $170

 

 

I'm seriously considering this. It's too cold, and im too lazy to pull an engine from a j/y. Assuming you find another one for me with decent miles what would u want me to throw you for pulling it? Now that gas is no longer $200/gal it would not be an unreasonable expense for me to drive there.

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FAIL! the leak can't go into the intake runner. Hopefully the leak pissed out and nothing else.

 

Did you overheat the engine? if not then the damn thing should only need an intake gasket.

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170k is awesome for LIM's... I've had them go between 27k-120k on 5 different cars.

 

I know, thats why I am smiling about it... Not often do LIM gaskets last anywhere near this kinda mileage..

 

FAIL!    the leak can't go into the intake runner. Hopefully the leak pissed out and nothing else.  

 

Did you overheat the engine? if not then the damn thing should only need an intake gasket.

 

FAIL!! They can and do!!! Only happens if the actual plastic part of the gaskets splits and I have done several that did and was pissing into the #6 intake port!!

 

No, the engine never got anywhere near overheating. Kinda also helps when I have had the thermostat stuck open for over a year :lol:

 

I notice a very noticable external leak.. Its coating part of my starter pretty good and even leaking down the rear of the engine too :lol: It fuckin just blew out bad!! Been a while since I have seen one like this, and it was on a 151K GP of an old friends with original intake gaskets.

 

The miss coulda easily been a vacuum induced leak from the utter failure, but who knows. All I know, its time for the CS to get some needed attention..

 

Has anyone verified that the W-body store DP will fit Gen 1 W's?? It sure looks like it will.. And $109! :eek: Great price to me!

http://www.wbodystore.com/grandprix/w-body-store-25-downpipe-p-181.html

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Just for future reference, what brand intake gasket set, and will it out last the original?

 

Tom

 

The Felpro and Dorman metal intake gaskets... GM has an improver gasket that is a bit better than the original. Felpro and Dorman are cheaper so the choice should be obvious. Dorman actually even comes with new bolts and a few other items for about $20-30 less than the Felpro

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Well glad you made it home ok man. I looked for my gaskets and I think they are in a box at the new house so I dont think Im gonna find them anytime soon. At least your lasted 170k since we just did a whole head gasket job on mine at 155k and it had been done before.

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*IF* your headgaskets are also junk and you don't decide to just throw in a full 3400, don't forget that LG8's and LA1's also have larger (and *supossedly* better shapped) intake ports and 1.76in (vs 1.72in) intake valves too.

 

In other words, heads might be a good thing to snag as well :wink:

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*IF* your headgaskets are also junk and you don't decide to just throw in a full 3400, don't forget that LG8's and LA1's also have larger (and *supossedly* better shapped) intake ports and 1.76in (vs 1.72in) intake valves too.

 

In other words, heads might be a good thing to snag as well :wink:

 

Yeah... Looked at it today, no headgasket issues... I was worrying about them, but at 170K, it should only be ruled out when you can actually determine they are good..

 

Im gonna be doing the large port swap and the larger TB, as well as odering in the EGR delete kit from MMS or WOT-Tech

 

Im gonna go to pull a part maybe Sunday since I need the larger TB. I gave mine to Rob assembled and forgot to get his unassembled larger TB for me...

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