Overheating

i have a question, i think i have the lower intake leak and i was wondering how hard it was to do the repair myself. i'm pretty sure that is what it is because there is water coming from the side by the air intake. and the water coming out was brown so i'm hoping that will change when i fix the problem. please someone help me. i have to use my car for work and it will not be good if it breaks down.

[FormulaNERD]

-Alero- is driving here this weekend, i'm gonna help him with it.

i'm no expert, but i have access to any tool, and a haynes, i guess that helps.

if you can will you post some pictures and a how to. i really need to do mine i think. it will be such a help. thanks

[jamcllw]

It's not hard just takes time. Get a Haynes manual well worth the $15. It has a nice step by step of the process. Make sure you label everything cuz the wires and bolts can get easily confused. Make sure when you buy the gaskets that they are the updated version with the little metal cylinders by the bolt holes on the end. They prevent you from overtightening the bolts and cracking the gasket.

[FormulaNERD]

wheres the best place to get gaskets, and are copper gaskets better?

[jamcllw]

I didn't know they had copper gasket. I don't think the FelPro gasket has the cylinders. I got mine off of ebay for about $20 shipped. The dealer will have the new gaskets and they cost around the same as the FelPro. Look to spend $50-$60 just for the gaskets. You may not need them but you might want to go ahead and replace the valve cover gaskets also. There rubber so yours may not be bad but just in case I'd replace them.

can you get the gaskets at auto zone? so is that all i will have to replace is my gasket?

[-Alero-]

pretty much, just make sure you have alot of time on hands. as well as tools

[jamcllw]

Originally posted by aleroguy83@Mar 18 2005, 12:15 AM
can you get the gaskets at auto zone? so is that all i will have to replace is my gasket?

Yeah you can get them at Autozone but they probably have to order them. Get them from the dealer. Damn near the same price and they'lll most likely have them in stock because its such a popular part. And the dealer will have the updated gasket. And that's all you'll need to change the gasket. It comes with new upper intake gaskets as well. You might want to think about getting valve cover gaskets at the same time because you have to remove the valve covers to replace the manifold gasket and no sense in doing it twice.

[Cliff8928]

The service bulletin also recommends replacing the lower intake bolts as well, and don't forget to follow the revised torque procedures.

[FormulaNERD]

what are the revised torque procedures?

[FormulaNERD]

The new torque specification is a 2-step process; tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (the four middle ones) to 7 N·m (62 lb in). Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (two on each end) to 7 N·m (62 lb in). Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (the four middle ones) to 13 N·m (115 lb in). Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (two on each end) to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

[alero440]

A mechanic can do a lower intake in 4 hrs. The book time is like 6 hrs. I've seen it done, it's not that hard, just very time consuming. Good luck!!!