timely monthly bump

*bump*

matt

Does anyone have any thoughts on what the solution is to prevent the lower intake gaskets from deteriorating? Is there an upgraded gasket that should be used or a modification?

this is me speaking, not anything i've managed to dig up - but personally, i think that it'* one of those things that you just kind of need to expect, and can't get around. gaskets come and gaskets go, and over time, i suppose any gasket will eventually need to be replaced...

but hey, if anyone here has heard of upgraded gaskets, i'd love to hear about it, as my lowers look like they're just about done...

matt

Will suggested stick with the GM lower gaskets when they need to be replaced as they have been improved.

Doing the upper intake is one thing, but going after the lowers is a lot more work! I was just looking for a permanent "band aid" so-to-speak....

weld it

(disclaimer: anyone who thought that was serious, step away from your computer, think for a minute, and come back when you can realize that welding two pieces of your engine together not only wouldn't work, it would be really stupid)

i've never done the lowers before, but am getting ready to... but from the looks of it, it shouldn't honestly be too much more than just doing the uppers. a few more things in the way perhaps, and a few more bolts, but not too much longer.

just make sure that if you do it, you take your time and do it right - clean everything in your way on the way down, and clean it all again before you put it back. that alone will make things go better... but make sure that your gasket mating surfaces are in grade A shape... that will deff help remove any chance of needing to do this again.

matt

Part numbers please.

If any one has the latest part numbers for any of these gaskets please post them. It would be my luck to end up with the old gaskets.

part numbers don't change (more often than not) even when the parts do or are upgraded. if you buy from gmpartsdirect.com, it'll be the upgraded design, as it would be from any dealer. they clear out old stuff pretty good, so no worries there.

part numbers can be had from gmpartsdirect.com

matt

Hey Guys, good question !!-what can we do about the lower intake gaskets :?:
As I've stated before, mine were totally wasted.
I'm including this link to show you a picture I took. (the picture is very large, so you'll have to scroll around to see it all.) Click this link to view detailed image:
http://www.mike.vcn.com/bonneville/gaskets.jpg

I have a couple of questions for you: (-all thoughts and opinions welcomed)
1. What the heck are those notches for in the coolant ports ?? The new blue gasket is from the set I got from the GM dealer, saying that they "improved design." :?: HUH :?: If you scroll clear over to the right, you'll notice that those dumb notched areas are where the worst failure was on my 1999. (had never been apart, as far as I could tell) Now I may be missing something obvious here, but please "give me a clue !!"
2. Why are the raised silicone beads smaller on the Fel-Pro set? (the red ones on the left) AND notice that the Fel-Pro gaskets certainly do not have those notches. Hmmmmm :? , I wonder why that is ? (-at least I think that the general rule is that red silicone is for higher temperatures than blue,,)

I remember someone saying they felt that the Fel-Pro gaskets were even worse than the GM'*. Heck, I don't know. I did use the Fel-Pro'*, but now I wonder if I should have used the GM'*. I just was totally bothered by those dumb notches. And for what it is worth, I have used Fel-Pro sets on most all of the small block Chevy'* I have built, and have been TOTALLY impressed with them. (-what is even more interesting, think of the thousands and thousands of small block chevys running around out there with aftermarket aluminum intake manifolds on iron heads and blocks, being abused daily, and never failing,,,,)

Oh yes, just for fun, scroll the picture clear up to the top right, and see the one coolant port that was totally plugged with nasty "Death-Cool" crap. Granted, it was the one which is blocked off by the manifold, but the "death-cool" corrosion was at least one inch deep into the cylinder head too. It took a lot of screwdriver and shop vac time to get that crap out.

GEEEEEEZZZZZ GM, What have you done to your faithful followers

Hi

I used Felpro for my lower when we did the replacement in November.

I hope I made the right choice. :?

I was just about to call the phone # for a Ken-Co stove pipe replacement kit, till I saw the price $80.00. The US is full of machine shops that can beat that price.