I purchased this car new and the exterior and interior are in perfect condition.

I'm starting to loose water but can't find a leak? The engine is running rough when for the first few minutes than smooths out. I'm planning to keep this car as my everyday driver and purchase a corvette for a weekend car. I need some advice as to what to do .... do I purchase a remanufactured engine or fix the current one?

I had a problem with the intake manifold back around 100,000 miles and had it fixed ... I never replaced the timing chain yet either.

What would you recommend to keep my rod on the road?
timing chain replacement,valve job and timing chain?

Or purchase another engine.

I appreciate any information you could provide .... Thanks!

I take that you have a Series II NA engine because you stated that you replaced the upper intake at about 100K. If you are loosing coolent, there are two places that are most common: the intake (which could account for a rough idle at startup) and the water pump (check for seeping--both cold and hot engine). The plastic intake has been a problem since day one--and GM has not fixed the problem. In essense, the intake you replaced 98K ago is probably leaking again. These engines are very well designed--with the exception of the intake problem. You could go either way on this one, but, if you purchase a used engine, you are purchasing a used intake manifold. If you purchase a new or remanufactured engine, you are spending more $ than you would if you simply replaced the intake.

You have owned this car since new, therefore you know how it was taken care of. I would recommend replacing the intake and then investing in a 180 degree t-stat to help prolong the life of your new intake. If, however, you feel that you have abused this car for the last 200K and don't think it will last much longer, you may wish to go an engine swap.

Good luck in your decision.

Tim

PS. Welcome to the Club.

Most likely it'* your plastic plenum. Try taking off your airbox and looking into through the MAF screen. The leak is probably going to be there. If you can see it possibly try taking off the plenum and look for cracks or wreaked seals. My dad is an ASE certified tech and thats what we had to fix on my car. It was right around 100,000 when it happened. He recently had a 95 n/a in the shop with the same problem. This seems to be a very common problem with the 3800. GM obviously hasn't fixed the problem because there was also a 2001 in the shop with the exact same problem....

Well if your engine has 198,000 miles, you can buy a Series II engine with low miles for about 2k that includes engine/tranny/ecu/wiring harness. In the long run it would probably be nicer just to swap that in and the car will keep going.

jr's3800, and aluminum replacement would cost alot. I could have one made but it would not be cheap.

Let'* not forget the Series 1 can have a similar problem. Josh'* 93SSE had the mysterious coolant loss. 50% was going into a failed seal between the upper and lower intakes, and the other 50% was going into cylinder #6 from the head gasket. The Series 1 upper intakes aren't as crack-prone as the Series 2, but the seals are still a problem. If you pull the upper intake off, you'll see where the leak is. A clean runner on the lower intake is an indication of liquid. Water injection has it'* benefits! Jseabert'* #3 lower intake runner was clean as a whistle, as well as the head ports and cylinder somewhat, and cylinder #6 was too, but not the #6 intake port in the head.

I agree, but I think GM ironed out alot of the bugs in Bonneville'* by 99. My car has had no problems and I have taken it apart and it shows no sign of in danger of the intake leak.

RZ, I had same problem. It was upper intake gasket #6 cylinder. I replaced it and problem went away. It took total of 6hrs for me to do the work. By the way mine has 218,000 miles. Good luck