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L36 Intake Gasket and Maintenance Q's


GP1138

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Since I am preparing to purchase a car with this engine under the hood, and the intake gaskets may not have been replaced on it, I am seeking some info. It is an RPO L36 Series II 3800, is there a definitive guide to:

 

1.) Replacing intake manifold gaskets

2.) Replacing the coolant elbow that apparently breaks

 

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Just do em. As you know if theyre not leaking now they will. Any 3800 intake job is pretty straightforward. Even if you break those elbows off in the LIM or alt bracket you have to take both of them off anyways so its no sweat.

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I don't have a guide for you, but the whole install is pretty straightforward. I've done LIM gaskets on a Series 1 and Series 2 3800, and its really pretty easy as long as you remember where everything went, especially the vacuum hoses.

 

While you're doing the LIM gaskets,

Change oil right after the job

Get the dorman upper intake plenum kit

Replace the injector o-rings

 

And if you're going to be using this car for yourself, you might as well port the LIM for a pretty big performance increase. The L36 LIM is pretty horribly machined.

 

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oh and dont do a half assed job of draining the coolant like i did. drain it at least halfway or more or youll get a surprise when you pull the lim, and end up changing the oil twice.

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a few things to know about doing L36 intake gaskets.

 

you WILL need a upper intake, I don't care how good the one on it is, but IF it is the OE intake it WILL someday spring a leak and hydrolock the engine.

 

make sure you use black RTV on the corners of the intake gaskets where the little rubber things connect them

 

muffin monsters are probably the best thing ever.

 

 

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  • 11 months later...

a few things to know about doing L36 intake gaskets.

 

you WILL need a upper intake, I don't care how good the one on it is, but IF it is the OE intake it WILL someday spring a leak and hydrolock the engine.

 

make sure you use black RTV on the corners of the intake gaskets where the little rubber things connect them

 

muffin monsters are probably the best thing ever.

 

 

 

Wtf is a muffin monster?

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The way to tell if the job has been done check the date code on the middle of the upper intake. If it says 97 or 98 in the middle of it, the unit is original. Check attached picture.

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a few things to know about doing L36 intake gaskets.

 

you WILL need a upper intake, I don't care how good the one on it is, but IF it is the OE intake it WILL someday spring a leak and hydrolock the engine.

 

make sure you use black RTV on the corners of the intake gaskets where the little rubber things connect them

 

muffin monsters are probably the best thing ever.

 

 

 

Wtf is a muffin monster?

 

Its a screw on nylon diamond tipped 3m attachment for a pneumatic 90 degree die grinder. They make the gasket/metal surface cleaning process a cinch.

 

7526.jpg

09-01520.jpg

 

 

its called a roloc disc they make them in yellow (abrasive) too!

 

3M SCOTCH-BRITE

ROLOC BRISTLE DISC

 

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/thumbnails/09-01520.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/to/sanding_z3m.html&usg=__gIx8BQbqU41aiNRWwhsGzpMfiH0=&h=150&w=144&sz=8&hl=en&start=52&um=1&tbnid=GkaOVirHbXzSqM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3D3m%2Broloc%2Bdisc%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1

 

bluejtd009.jpg end result

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I've been using a putty knife...

 

That does indeed sound amazing then. I've been using a flathead screwdriver. :lol:

 

 

 

 

in that case, one of those roloc's will revolutionize your entire world.

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Bump as I'm preparing to do the obviously leaking set on my Intrigue. What's the consensus a year later on best gasket set?

GM metal frame LIM gaskets.

 

Are they any better than the Felpro perma-dry gaskets?

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Bump as I'm preparing to do the obviously leaking set on my Intrigue. What's the consensus a year later on best gasket set?

GM metal frame LIM gaskets.

 

Are they any better than the Felpro perma-dry gaskets?

 

I would doubt it

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Hmmm and here I've been cleaning gasket surfaces with a razor blade.

 

I use razor blade gasket scrapers(carefully!) or plastic scrapers myself. I have used roloc discs before as well...

 

 

Rob: Do you know if the OEM's have revised their stance on roloc discs? I know bulletins were out years ago about them and they were not recommended to use. I can't remember if those bulletins were to discontinue use or only to not use them in particular cases though. The TSB's claimed premature wear from the use of them due to very small particles of metal being introduced into the engine during gasket removal.

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

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