It is hard to say if the coolant level changed.....

I have seemed to have a coolant leak for a while now...nothing serious I thought....just maybe a loose hose or something. So I can't answer that with certainty.

I've been at the parts store a couple of times when others have come in and complained that the core on their Fram filter had collapsed and cut off their oil flow - that'* why I mention that.

I agree that if there is any indication at all of coolant in the oil, the gaskets should be changed. If not, and you're up to it, changing them out anyway would be a good preventative maintenance idea.

Especially since you have 190k on it...

Good point on changing them anyways....would the manifold as well as the gaskets need to be changed, or just the gaskets?

Your manifolds shold be fine.

As your year didn't have the same issues on the upper, you'll likely be able to just replace the gaskets. Inspect everything closely as you tear it down. May as well do the valve cover gaskets while you're at it.

That is good news....now I need to go get me a torque wrench. I should be posting more pictures when I open the engine up. As said earlier, I have never done it, but feel confident about it...any and all help will be appreciated.

And pull off the oil filter, right?

Can he use the newer aluminum framed lower intake gaskets on his engine? I thought I had read that they may work, and just have to cut the locating pins off the rubber gaskets for the ends?

Yeah, I'll am going to pull of the filter first...