GM 3.1L lower intake manifold gasket problems

[cfrank2]

I have a 1997 chevy lumina with a 3.1L engine that has bad lower intake manifold gaskets, I know this is supposed to be a common problem. Has anyone on this forum had that problem and how did you fix it? I am planning on doing it myself but i would like to know what all you have to pull off to do the job and what all parts are needed. And why has GM included new bolts in the gasket kit (P/N:19169127)? are there something wrong with the old ones? has anyone had problems getting the old bolts off or had the bolts break?

Thank you

[maxwedge]

Do a site search for the procedure plenty of info, the bolts are stronger and have thread locker on them new torqueing procedure also. As for the valve noise in your other post, try and pinpoint which side of the engine before the intake job, then look at the rockers and valvetrain when it is apart. No way to tell from here what the actual source of any noise is.

[cfrank2]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Do a site search for the procedure plenty of info, the bolts are stronger and have thread locker on them new torqueing procedure also. As for the valve noise in your other post, try and pinpoint which side of the engine before the intake job, then look at the rockers and valvetrain when it is apart. No way to tell from here what the actual source of any noise is.

This may be a stupid questoin but what are those bolts in the GM kit replacing? are they for the upper intake manifold?

[maxwedge]

Manifold to heads.

[cfrank2]

Maxwedge,

Sorry i keep having to ask all these questons but i could not find a write-up on how to do this. I have a alldata online subscription and i looked at thier procedures but they say nothing about removing any of the valvetrain components but i have heard on this forum and other places on the internet that the pushrods need to be pulled out, Is that true and what kind of tools would be needed to do that? do i need to pull the pulley from the power steering pump or can the pump just be repositioned out of the way?

[Scotty89]

If I rememeber right the manifold bolts are a torque to yield bolt. They are suppose to be a one time use bolt. I have changed the intake gaskets on my grand am, which has the 3.1 motor, about three times and i used the same bolts and havent had a problem with them. But since you already have them use them. After the third time changing the gaskets I left the raditor cap loose so the system wouldnt build up a lot of pressure. But my grand am has the cap on the overflow resevior and not on the raditor. I dont suggest doing this because even though the cooling system runs at the normal temperature, it doesnt cool everything like it should and could cause more trouble down the road. I don't how similar the lumina and the grand am are but on my car i had to remove the pushrods the alternator and the i was able to move the power steering pump off to the side.

[maxwedge]

Scotty89, good info, also the pushrods are different lengths, be careful reinstalling them a mix up can cause a bent valve.