Just in case anyone is interested:

I just finished doing front valve covers, barely beat the rain, but I did haha.

The removal is pretty straightforward, the Chiltons and AllData information I have seen is dead on for the front cover.

This took me about an hour and a half, close to 2 I think, but a lot of that time was spent on the one bolt that is right next to the dipstick tube, which I could not seem to remove. It is part of the procedure to remove the tube, but I could find no tool that was capable of getting to that bolt, so I spent a long time one that one cover bolt.

This procedure is almost like a spark plug replacement, taken a couple steps further. I would like to add though, that the spark plug boots have no need to be removed, although all the procedure instructions say too, theres no need for it.

On to the pics!

After removing the cover, this is what started me in the face

I found that somewhat intimidating, and just to note that one of the spark plug seals stuck to the cover, thats why theres only 2 in this picture.




This is what the underside of the cover looks like, you cant mess up the gaskets, they fit into grooves, and only fit one way, I was particularly impressed with the perimeter gaskets, they actually clip onto the cover in multiple locations, making it next to impossible for the gasket to move upon re installation.


And theres what everything should look like before you put it back together.
I have more pictures, but most of them are just prior to removal of the cover.

Im am dreading the rear one, which I believe is the one that is leaking, allow oil to get inside the coil area, which is not cool.

Nice pictures.

My family has a '98 3.8L Intrigue. I also test drove a '00 Intrigue with the shortstar. I couldn't tell which one was quicker. I liked the torque the 3.8 had, but the 3.5 was quick in the high-rpm ranges.

Interesting... My former Intrepid (God Bless that peice of ****) Had the spark plugs external although still in between the valves and cams. Same location, but outside the valve cover with long, long boots.

wow, that seems like a lot of work for what you accomplished.

all that, because of a leaky valve cover gasket?

I think the 3.5 is a little quicker in balls to the wall situations, based on comparisons with my Bonneville butt dyno, as well as other comparisons involving 3800 powered W bodies that I cant discuss here

Most of the time, id rather have a 3800 though.

The spark plugs arent too bad to deal with once you get over the initial "this is the dumbest thing ive ever seen" phase. I did the back ones last time without even rotating the engine forward, did them by feel.

It'* just as much work to change them out on an L67 in a w-body. Coil packs, ICM, front top engine mount, and SC tensioner all have to be removed. Total debacle to get to the fronts. Alternator and accessory tensioner bracket have to be removed for the rear. Was a total nightmare. Took me a total of three hours to do the front and back.


That 3.5 is a really torquey engine. We test drove a 99 Intrigue before we ended up buying our 99 SE. I thought it had a lot more power than the 3800 in the Bonnie....

They claim that the 3.5 is the "shortstar." The northstar minus 2 cylinders.

Have you seen a northstar and does it look similar to your 3.5?

Okay...

3.8 -- 195-hp @ 5,200RPM ; 220 lb.-ft. @ 4,000RPM ; Axle Ratio 3.05

3.5 -- 215-hp @ 5,500 rpm ; 234 lbs.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm ; Axle Ratio 3.05 or 3.29

Ive never seen a Northstar so I dont really know. I do know the heritage of the 3.5 though.

The Aurora 4.0 is based of a Cadillac Northstar engine, but is not considered a true Northstar if memory serves. The 3.5 is based off the 4.0, so its a distant cousin of the Northstar engines, I believe the designers called it the Short North while it was being made, so thats where it got the Shortstar nickname.


I dont find it to be very torquey at all, the L36 has way more low end grunt. There were a few Intrigues with the 3.29 ratio I believe, so it could be that you got ahold of one of those Vital.

and Haro, that was just the front one, you have to remove a few little things, mostly vacuum lines and wiring harnesses....the rear involves things like removing the surge tank and power steering lines just off the top of my head.

I agree with him. You must have found a special one.

Oh.. and why do the Series II 3800 on the intrigue have 10 less HP and 10 less Torque than the Series II 3800 in the bonneville?

I know that the Grand Prix and other W cars with the 3800 are rated at 200hp/230 ft lbs because of the U-bend, and I believe their airbox is just a little more restrictive as well.

I think the Intrigue maintains the 230 ft. lbs somehow, but Im not sure why the extra 5 hp loss, I know it has a U-bend, and should have the same airbox. Im thinking that the PCM may be more restrictive on the Olds maybe.

very peculiar...