I have a 5 year old 3800 that is pushing 65K, and yes im starting to get nervous. What are peoples thoughts about removing the 3800 beauty cover to let the heat escape from around the intake and let it breath? Cant hurt, right?

Also, How can I tell if it has been changed to an Dorman, Delphi or Motormite unit?

Jay

It only helps. If you want to put some mesh in it, so it'* still covering it up, and letting heat out many people do that.

Lots of folks take the cover off. It serves no real purpose except to hide all the stuff anyways.....

Leaving it on probably won't contribute to such a problem. But leaving it off can only make it release heat better, so I'd say do it.

There are alot of meshed and removed covers out there. Go for it!

Anyone have pics of the meshed covers? I work in a metal fab shop and could get creative in the off hours.

Jay

FWIW, i've got a 96 with the original intake. i pulled it all apart a while back (1 1/2 months or so), and the upper was just dandy... but the lower intake gaskets were in horrible shape... i'd worry about those a little bit first

but taking the cover off won't hurt, and i personally don't think it hurts to have it on...

I left mine as well. Don't over look those lower gaskets. My 99 upper intake was 100% in-tact as well. The lower gaskets were another sad story. Don't over look them.

Same with me... when i done my head job a few months ago the upper gaskets were great, but the lowers were shot to sh*t...

Guys, the gaskets aren't the problems, it'* the actuall plastic itself, and you can't see where it fails. If the date stamped into the top is 99 or earlier, you will have the problem sooner or later.