Need Help!!! Gasket Replaement Started

OMG!!! This like a 100x's More work than I thought. But I'm 99.999% done with the taking it apart side of it. Onliy thing now is the fuel lines leading to the top of the intake area. How do I disconnect them. I'm sorry I usually have pics. I'll post a full tear down and replacement of gasket 2mar0. I'm friggin beat. lol. No help tonight. I flew solo broke that vaccume line that attatches to the ball on the underside of the hood. lol that was the only thing I broke too. Hood prop bar was in the way so I used rod I found laying in the garage. while taking off the plugs from the distributor I whaled it with my elbo and the hood fell on me. lol lmfao/ didn't really hurt more funny than anything. glad no one saw it. I was pissed tho when it happened. then i took a break and had a chuckle . Any hoo if some one could hep with the gas lines i'd be much obliged.

If I remember right, there is one bolt in between or next to the two lines that holds a bracket to the manifold. It's hard to see but you can feel it back there. There might be some ground wires under the same bolt too so take note.

If I remember right, there is one bolt in between or next to the two lines that holds a bracket to the manifold. It's hard to see but you can feel it back there. There might be some ground wires under the same bolt too so take note.
I got that off. Im talkin the actual lines they come to a coupling of sorts. then i can unscrew them but too close to firewall cant get wrench on it.

plus is there much gas in the lines? And the purge valve i depressed like stated in the book. Gas everywhere . do I just go with it until no mo gas?

plus is there much gas in the lines? And the purge valve i depressed like stated in the book. Gas everywhere . do I just go with it until no mo gas?


Yes, press it til no more gas and all pressure is gone. Use a rag to help catch all the gas.


As for the lines I use a small tubing wrench to get them loose. They are rather hard to get too where they are close to the firewall.



BTW - Love the new sig cartoon.

Yes, definatly use a line wrench... You can flex them some to move them but if it's still too difficult to move them back when you unscrewthem (be careful putting them back on! They're easy to cross thread! If you can't hand tighten them at first, back them off!)

The fact you can't move them back at the moment is fine. When you remove the lower intake manifold bolts, and then lift up the lower intake itself (may need a prybar to shift it) you can slife the manifold forward and walla, the lines are out!

When I did my CPI replacement, I found that leaving the bracket in place, then removing the distributor and the driver's side wire harness that plugged into it's ignitor module gave me plenty of room to use line/flare nut wrenches. I say leave the bracket in place because the fuel lines are keyed to fit into the bracket to keep them from turning when you apply pressure to the wrenches. Once the fuel lines were disconnected, they can be pushed back just enough to clear the nut kit's collars on the back of the intake and to the sides a bit to give your hands room to turn a 1/4 ratchet on a mini handle and a Torx bit to remove the plate. The removed harness from the ignitor module will give you even more room to move as the 1/4 ratchet head I have got is not a micro-fine one...needs to spin at least an 1/8 turn before it goes "click". *grumble* Getting the nut kit in and out when I did my top-end job was the worst, knuckle-busting part of the entire job with me laying face and belly down atop of my half disassembled engine.

Thanx guys!! Just got home from work. Goin down to my parents garage. Back to the Blazer to take off those lines and manifold. I am forever in all your debt for this info. thank you X's 1000!! lol.

Just take your time and don't get in a hurry. That is usually when something ends up getting broke is when your in a rush. I have faith you can get the job done!

Hey GirlBear, Don't change your Avatar anymore. I almost forgot what you looked like.
Special note to: Blazee, "leave this one alone" I am not pulling a mrfirebird here... LOL

Hey guys. I am Kelly's sister , Holly she's still down there working on her truck. She's awesome. She wanted to know what to do about the clogged water passages. there is debris falling into the cavaty where the manifold was? I hope thats what she said. thnx

I would clear them gently with a soft wire bristle brush, like a brass one. THen make sure that the sealing area is *spotlessly* clean, passing a rag soaked in Acetone or brake cleaner over the areas before laying down your RTV and fresh gaskets. Once the engine is back together, flush, refill, flush and refill (you get the idea) your cooling system until nothing but clear water is coming out. You may want to temporarily remove and shunt the lines from your heater core while doing this to minimize debris entrapment throughout the system while flushing/refilling. Refill with a 50-50 mix of your favorite coolant when done and don't think any more about it. :)

You go GirlBear !

GirlBear for President !

you can stuff rags down into so that the gasket crap doesn't fall in !




Hey guys. I am Kelly's sister , Holly she's still down there working on her truck. She's awesome. She wanted to know what to do about the clogged water passages. there is debris falling into the cavaty where the manifold was? I hope thats what she said. thnx

Use a full can of brake clean to clean that oil valley!!!! Then cover it with news paper (just stuff it in there so no more debri can get in there...) For the clogged water passages and EGR passages, Use a screwdriver to pick the crap out...(the newspaper will catch anything you miss) Do an oil change before starting it back up...

I'm back. ther is an orange/brownish in color dirt like substance packed tight in the rectangle holes , where i'm guessing water/coolant flows. as soon as I lifted the manifold up this shit fell into the engine. oh and was i pissed. what do ya think this crud is?

D-O-double-DexCool ??????



I'm back. ther is an orange/brownish in color dirt like substance packed tight in the rectangle holes , where i'm guessing water/coolant flows. as soon as I lifted the manifold up this shit fell into the engine. oh and was i pissed. what do ya think this crud is?

It is coolant that dried in the heads when the engine is shut down and there is air in the system. The air rises, coolant falls, exposing "damp" areas to be dried, leaving hardened coolant over time as the water cooks out of the coolant in layers that slowly build. This is why we're big on replacing GM issue radiator caps ASAP, so air does not become introduced and then linger in the system. Properly bleeding the air out of the system before you put the new rad cap on will help you get a leg up on air removal. After that, don't lift the cap to add more coolant, but do it from the overflow bottle. Popping the cap off of a "sealed" cooling system can indroduce a small amount of air that will, in time come back out of the system. But low coolant/air entrapment does this. It is most likely from driving around for a little while with a lower intake leak which would allow air into the system over time as fluid drained out.

man! im like totaly buggin! <---lol! Seriously tho, should i blow that crap out of cavity with air compressor? it just stuck to oil and greased areas like sand to suntan lotion. only anology i could think of.

here is a pic of the new gaskets. (stock photo) my question, the biggest gasket. whats that 4?
http://www.partsamerica.com/product_images/img/fel/ms95817.jpg

man! im like totaly buggin! <---lol! Seriously tho, should i blow that crap out of cavity with air compressor? it just stuck to oil and greased areas like sand to suntan lotion. only anology i could think of.
It just hit me SHOP-VAC!!!!! Ill suck it out. that shoul work, right??

Hose the entire area down with a couple of cans of brake clean... Then drop all the oil out. Stuff the entire oil galley with newspaper (flat not crumpled).. BTW, I was thinking about this thread before I went to bed last night... Did you mark the distributor before you pulled it out?

Hose the entire area down with a couple of cans of brake clean... Then drop all the oil out. Stuff the entire oil galley with newspaper (flat not crumpled).. BTW, I was thinking about this thread before I went to bed last night... Did you mark the distributor before you pulled it out?
yeah, you know what? didn't think about it til it was out. but i also snapped the ear off the cap and where it screws to the bottom. Doh!!

yeah, you know what? didn't think about it til it was out. but i also snapped the ear off the cap and where it screws to the bottom. Doh!!


Hmm.. Well you'll need a new cap, that's for sure... The reason I mentioned the dist, is that I don't want you to freak out of your car doesn't start right up or runs like ass...

You use a locked distributor.... We all know that you drop it in at 0 TDC with the rotor pointing at between 7 and 8 o'clock. (That's where the actual #1 terminal is INSIDE the cap..(follow the tube on the cap and you will see). More than likely you will drop it in 1 or 2 teeth in either direction and the engine won't start or will run like ass. Don't tighten the dist bolt down all the way, just enough to lock it on the pin... You will likely have to drop the distributor several times before you hit it... Don't get too frusated

Hmm.. Well you'll need a new cap, that's for sure... The reason I mentioned the dist, is that I don't want you to freak out of your car doesn't start right up or runs like ass...

You use a locked distributor.... We all know that you drop it in at 0 TDC with the rotor pointing at between 7 and 8 o'clock. (That's where the actual #1 terminal is INSIDE the cap..(follow the tube on the cap and you will see). More than likely you will drop it in 1 or 2 teeth in either direction and the engine won't start or will run like ass. Don't tighten the dist bolt down all the way, just enough to lock it on the pin... You will likely have to drop the distributor several times before you hit it... Don't get too frusated
Shit, If I get this Monster back together without Goin insane I'll be stoked. Distibutor,Plugs firing order thats the least of my worries at this point. I know my way around tthat stuff. Thanks for the concern tho. and ill prolly be back on bitchin about it later tho. or send my sister to ask for help. lol

The usual Dexcool mud it sounds like, and I wonder if a dealer has ever put in sealer to stop this leak earlier. Clean it as best you can but you should flush the cooling system with some cleaner, I've used the Prestone stuff with good results, and then flush with clean water a couple times. I'm starting to wonder how GM stays in business with these intake leaks and cooling system foul ups.

The usual Dexcool mud it sounds like, and I wonder if a dealer has ever put in sealer to stop this leak earlier. Clean it as best you can but you should flush the cooling system with some cleaner, I've used the Prestone stuff with good results, and then flush with clean water a couple times. I'm starting to wonder how GM stays in business with these intake leaks and cooling system foul ups.
I know what u mean. My uncle and his son are long time chevy car salesmen. My entire family buys only chevy. Like 20 people. I warned everyone of Gm's dirty little secret. of course my cousin pleaded the 5th on all accounts. lol. but i suggested every one get a cooling system check-up at non chevy/gm garage.

Use a full can of brake clean to clean that oil valley!!!! Then cover it with news paper (just stuff it in there so no more debri can get in there...) For the clogged water passages and EGR passages, Use a screwdriver to pick the crap out...(the newspaper will catch anything you miss) Do an oil change before starting it back up...

Sounds to me like it the famous dexcool MUD. I'd just get what you can out, take the thermostat out and then flush the hell out of it. Maybe when your all said and done take it and get a professional back-flush done. Replace the thermostat also, for a 5.00 part what the hey right. :lol2:

Girlbear, what led to you replacing this gasket?

Girlbear, what led to you replacing this gasket?


It was leaking, see her first thread here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=470208

It was leaking, see her first thread here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=470208

Oh right I remember that thread.

My god Girlbear you have guts, that is quite the repair for a novice. I have been thinking on replacing mine and I am chicken. :(

Oh right I remember that thread.

My god Girlbear you have guts, that is quite the repair for a novice. I have been thinking on replacing mine and I am chicken. :(


She sure does. I didn't quite have the guts when mine went out either, I also had time working against me and didn't have a garage to work in either.

But I have faith in her that she can get the job done!!!


Also girl bear the biggest gasket you asked about earlier looks to be the upper plenum gasket.





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Yes, I really want some photos of this for the record, would be awesome to see the grime she is talking about and the problems she is seeing.

Girlbear, please, a couple pics for us wimps.

I agree, Some Pic would be great to see.

GirlBear, how are things coming along? Please give us an update.






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It's been a while - I think the truck swallowed her whole!

I think the truck swallowed her whole!
HHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Let me think about this for a second Muzzy1Maniac.

I am just worried that she got hurt or something. We all know that sometimes, no matter how careful we are - that shit happens. She's already dropped her hood on herself during this repair and I just hope that nothing else has happened. It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye...then it's just fun. :)

Woah i missed the hood,yeh injury could have happened, i almost needed emergency room service on finger when it got between the wall and 5.7,it was like 500lbs of metal into figure not good bloody mess.you'll have that when you work on a 5.7 in the back of a 16' foot ford box truck.
I want update if she is alive and well enough to type.

Girlbear or Sis , WHERE are you !!!!! Did hood say yum-yum again ?

Ok boys and girls Im back from an ecellent week end. Truck went together 10x's faster than it came apart. No Problems . Except For the blasted Distributor. And I bought the truck without an A/C It had beed removed previously to my purchase. so I spent half the time trying #1 to figure out how to route the belt. and#2 getting it back on alone. I had to call my sister out. My big strong brother was hidding some where at the time. Plus hes as about as mechanical as a bowl of pudding. lol. Pics, well thats another story. I used my parents awesome Sony Mavica mini-Disk. Took about 25 good tutorial quality pics. Also on the disk were pics of my mom and dads anniversary vacation. Some one maybe a ghost removed the disk. we thought maybe it was taken to walmart to process their pics?????????? But as soon as it turns up Ill post those damned pictures lol lol. I was thinkin of at least takin a pic of the gasket for u all to see how bad it was for now. I know not that exciting but its all I got right now.
Oh and as soon as I hooked up the alt and buttoned everything up and tripple checked every tiny electical plug and knew I was done after a few seconds of tryin to start she fired right up. Distributor was def off but man I was GLEEMING!!!!!!!!!! Sofa King happy!!!!!!!!!!! I did it every single person I told what I was doing even my father doubted me. Now she wont start due to The distibutor. But I dont care. I will pay some one If I have to to get the dist set correctly. I did end up with 1 extra screw tho. and I lost a hose clamp. had to replace the bolt that holds one of the belt pulleys due to strippage. I'm going back to my parents in an hour to try to get her running. my parents live kitty corner to a mechanic when the owner leaves Ill have one of his employees come over and get his/hers opinion maybe slip'em a $20 to help me out. any questions let me know or answers too

Good job GirlBear!

go back on this thread and re-read Rliths post about the distributor. You probably just have it off by a tooth or two.

Try puttin it back in before you pay someone $20 ... hey, you got this far !!



Ok boys and girls Im back from an ecellent week end. Truck went together 10x's faster than it came apart. No Problems . Except For the blasted Distributor. And I bought the truck without an A/C It had beed removed previously to my purchase. so I spent half the time trying #1 to figure out how to route the belt. and#2 getting it back on alone. I had to call my sister out. My big strong brother was hidding some where at the time. Plus hes as about as mechanical as a bowl of pudding. lol. Pics, well thats another story. I used my parents awesome Sony Mavica mini-Disk. Took about 25 good tutorial quality pics. Also on the disk were pics of my mom and dads anniversary vacation. Some one maybe a ghost removed the disk. we thought maybe it was taken to walmart to process their pics?????????? But as soon as it turns up Ill post those damned pictures lol lol. I was thinkin of at least takin a pic of the gasket for u all to see how bad it was for now. I know not that exciting but its all I got right now.
Oh and as soon as I hooked up the alt and buttoned everything up and tripple checked every tiny electical plug and knew I was done after a few seconds of tryin to start she fired right up. Distributor was def off but man I was GLEEMING!!!!!!!!!! Sofa King happy!!!!!!!!!!! I did it every single person I told what I was doing even my father doubted me. Now she wont start due to The distibutor. But I dont care. I will pay some one If I have to to get the dist set correctly. I did end up with 1 extra screw tho. and I lost a hose clamp. had to replace the bolt that holds one of the belt pulleys due to strippage. I'm going back to my parents in an hour to try to get her running. my parents live kitty corner to a mechanic when the owner leaves Ill have one of his employees come over and get his/hers opinion maybe slip'em a $20 to help me out. any questions let me know or answers too

WELL DONE!!!!

100% of my respect goes to you! WAY TO GO!!! :D

Girlbear , You got a timing light? you have all these other tools . Get your sister to turn the key for a moment and turn the distributor slowly until you find the mark with the flash . Just dont turn the starter for more than 5 seconds at a time . so it will not get too hot . Rob

distributor is set. the cap was cracked. the rotor was shitty as well. I bought new cap and new rotor. had mechanic replace and set dist. Still no start. she wants to, but won't go all the way. She's a tease lol. left it at the mech's shop. they will get to it after hr's (labor $$ discount). We actually think its plug/wire related. I've used all my free time so far. so i gotta get on with other things. shes in good hands. any 1 have suggestions? btw mech seems 2 think my gasket replacement has nothing to do with any of this. phew!!!

sounds like it is still off a tooth or 180 degrees out.

sounds like it is still off a tooth or 180 degrees out.


Sounds good 2 me. I'll give it a try. Thank You BlazerLT.

180 degrees off will generaly net a chuff and a poof now and then. Plus, that is very easy to accomplish.

if it were 180 degrees out all she would have to do is reverse the wires :) Nah, more than likely she's only a tooth or 2 off in either direction... Everytime I pull pine I have to drop it 3 or 4 times to get it right...

Drop..start

Drop again...start

drop again and scream...Start...

Cry, drop, scream, curse because I just wracked a knuckle...Start... success...scream because I wracked my knuckle again doing the final securing of the dist bolt...and cut my finger on something...

YES!!!!!!!!!!
We have ignition!!!
She started right up!!
Changed oil & Filter, Flushed Engine-coolant. New Anti-freeze .
Runs Awesome. Woo Friggin Hoo!!!
New Rotor Cap, Plugs Wires. Reason for not starting: Bad Coil Wire.
On a downside Temp gauge Not working. Could I have unhooked something and not realized it??

congrats!

your truck should last you another billion miles !!

enjoy!

(figure out that temp gauge! Coolant Temperature Sending Unit? should be close to your T-Stat ... )



YES!!!!!!!!!!
We have ignition!!!
She started right up!!
Changed oil & Filter, Flushed Engine-coolant. New Anti-freeze .
Runs Awesome. Woo Friggin Hoo!!!
New Rotor Cap, Plugs Wires. Reason for not starting: Bad Coil Wire.
On a downside Temp gauge Not working. Could I have unhooked something and not realized it??

Thats my guess it should be rite around thermostat

YES!!!!!!!!!!
We have ignition!!!
She started right up!!
Changed oil & Filter, Flushed Engine-coolant. New Anti-freeze .
Runs Awesome. Woo Friggin Hoo!!!
New Rotor Cap, Plugs Wires. Reason for not starting: Bad Coil Wire.
On a downside Temp gauge Not working. Could I have unhooked something and not realized it??

Right on Girl. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

Coolant temperature sender is located right near that dreaded middle plug on the driver's side.

Blazerlt is right , The temp sender for the gauge is on the block between plugs #2 & 4 . The one near the thermostat is for the Fuel Injection control . Rob

YES!!!!!!!!!!
We have ignition!!!
She started right up!!
Changed oil & Filter, Flushed Engine-coolant. New Anti-freeze .
Runs Awesome. Woo Friggin Hoo!!!
New Rotor Cap, Plugs Wires. Reason for not starting: Bad Coil Wire.
On a downside Temp gauge Not working. Could I have unhooked something and not realized it??

Good deal GB... did you have to redrop the dist at all? If not yer lucky! :) As to the temp sender it will be on the drivers side block...

Good deal GB... did you have to redrop the dist at all? If not yer lucky! :) As to the temp sender it will be on the drivers side block...
I shall look for it later. And yes dropped it several times . no exageration, 25+. then i pushed it over to the shop. i asked them to make it start. they figured out the bad coil wire. then recomended i buy it else where and install it myself so they wouldn't have to charge me. then they charged me $100 dollars 4 LABOR!!! But Lets get back to the begining. Blown Intake gasket set $42. Cap & Rotor $40. Wires $30(Cheapo's). Oil & Filter $25. Plugs $30?I think?. Set distributor $100. Anti freeze & Injector cleaner $10. Total $277. If I had it done By a Shop $700-$900. I can't complain. I saved A mound of cake, Cheddar,Green,Dough,ends,paper. what ever you refer to $$$ as. A few minor adjustments and she'll be good as gold.

GirlBear,

Let Me Give Ya A Big OL HELL YEAH

GirlBear,

Let Me Give Ya A Big OL HELL YEAH
Well Thanx !!
And thanx to everyone 4 excellent help and advice seeing me thru the repairs!!!!!
Saddly no pics as of yet. Really want to look at them and reflect.

No prob girlbear... All of us will send our bills to your house this week...:D

No prob girlbear... All of us will send our bills to your house this week...:D
Funny!! lol. Don't expect promt payment.I have this theory, If u don't open the bill, it doesn't exist.