Hello all,

Like about 8 zillion other 3.8 owners, my '98 developed the dreaded intake leak about three months ago and the motor was hyrdrolocked while sitting in my garage overnight so badly that I broke the nosecone on the starter the next morning trying to start it. $1000 repair bill, woohoo. Now, it'* developed The Rod Knock from Hell and I've no doubt it'* directly related to the motor filling with antifreeze... :( No way am I going to give any more cash to my dealer to "fix" it again for me, so I'll do it myself. HOWEVER, I've gotten to the last engine to transaxle bolt (the "backwards" one that bolts into the transaxle rather than into the engine block) that, of course, is virtually impossible to see, touch, or detect, let alone remove. What'* the trick, GreatBonnevilleGurus? Thanks for any help/insight.

First welcome to the club.

Second:
I don’t really know how to say this but a very long extension and alot of feeling around while you say as many colorful words as possible. It was not that hard once I found it. Either I was under the car or I had already removed a few parts so it was easy. I also have long arms I am 6' 2" so it was not too hard. Call and we can chat if you can handle me talking your ear off. lol

Ty

Best advice I've heard to date is a very, very long extension near the Oil Filter Adapter.

Yeah as long as you dont live near a preschool, or a church I would just kuss as loud as I could fidleing with the extention and feeling around to get it on there.. Sorry there isnt really a trick..

Good point two was the max number of extensions I used.

Ty

Last year I replaced the motor in my '95 Bonneville SE, same problem as yours, bad intake manifold causing all kinds of nasty internal engine problems. I got the bolt out with an impact wrench, a 1/2 to 3/8 converter, two long 3/8 extensions, one short 3/8 swivel type extension, one 3/8 swivel and a six point 18mm socket. I came in through the exaust manifold by the middle spark plug. It took me an hour to figure out the configuration of my "Franken" extension setup, and five minutes to get the bolt out.

Before you pull the engine make sure to disconnect the motor to transaxle mount, it'* tucked under motor on the right hand side. I missed it, and when I went to pull the motor I ended up pulling apart the right side drive axle inside CV joint.

OK.......I'm officially offering a reward for someone to come to my house to REMOVE THIS ONE FREAKING BOLT. I give up. I've gotten responses from people saying they removed it from the top, from the bottom, from outside the passenger fenderwell....I've had no luck with any of them. The only time I could actually get the 18mm flex socket on the bolt, both universals that I had to use wanted to lock against each other (going in from the top near the middle spark plug, through the exhaust manifold, to grandmother'* house we go.......).

Mike "No More New GM Cars Ever" Evans

Mike I would do it for ya but I live so far away.

Ty

C'mon people! I know Mike from the Olds owners' email list. Let'* help him out somehow. (Just imagine if Pontiac announced that _they_ were going out of business after the 2004 model year.) Mike and GM are not on good terms right now.

Phone ill walk and me you through it.

Ty