head gasket repair

[CHAMPS97]

i searched but cannot find a link or site on how to change a head gasket on a 97 gtp any help to find one would be appreciated

[BillBoost37]

The reason you can't find it is because you probably don't have a blown head gasket. These motors are the super champions of never blowing a head gasket. You have better chances of getting struck by lightning 5 times on your big toe than needing to change a head gasket. That said..it can happen, it's just super rare.

Please tell us your symptoms and maybe we can save you a bunch of extra work and effort in getting all the way down to the block.

LIM gaskets are common and can leak coolant
SC to LIM gasket can leak coolant into the motor
TB spacers (if added) have been known to leak coolant into the motor

Basic HG is going to be pull the SC and TB, then the LIM and you are at the heads for the gaskets.

[sseilmnop]

Lower intake gaskets and upper composite intake manifolds on normally aspirated 3800's. Seized motors are mostly hydro-locked motors from leaking gaskets and upper intake manifolds.

[CHAMPS97]

car was overheating, changed t-stat bled it still overheating when my mechanic drove the car & then drove behind me he told me hg

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

i doubt the headgasket.

Lots of mechanics dont know chit about these cars. The main cause of the coolant being dumped into the motor is the Lower Intake Manifold gasket failing and letting coolant down into the cylinders and thats when they see the white smoke and think head gasket.

And these so called "mechanics" never even do compression tests to even rule out the headgasket. They just say thats what it needs and hope the customers pays for it.

Do a compressin test yourself to double check thats its not the head gasket. If all cylinder have good compression then you know its not the issue and that the LIM is to blame.

[BillBoost37]

All we know from your post is that the car overheated, mechanic swapped a Tstat and it's still overheating?

Ok, Let's double check that radiator level. Look at the condensor and ensure that the car is getting airflow. There's a few plastic pieces in the front of the GP's that could get shifted etc and block airflow. Should check them. An HG is going to make the car run horribly. How is it running overall?

[CHAMPS97]

my mechanic is family so free labor the car is off the road so i'm in no rush just trying to get info on how-to do hg i don't mind trouble shooting so opinions are welcomed he told me hg but i know there's other stuff to try my friend told me to test the pressure of the of the coolant system by putting this pressure gauge on the radiator to see if it holds if it doesn't hold it should show where it leaking from if it doesn't work how do i do a compression test thanks

[Bedwards]

my mechanic is family so free labor the car is off the road so i'm in no rush just trying to get info on how-to do hg i don't mind trouble shooting so opinions are welcomed he told me hg but i know there's other stuff to try my friend told me to test the pressure of the of the coolant system by putting this pressure gauge on the radiator to see if it holds if it doesn't hold it should show where it leaking from if it doesn't work how do i do a compression test thanks

Look under your coolant elbows on your alternator bracket. There is 2 common spots it leaks from there. Also check under your throttle body. See if you can see any coolant.

[tdm571]

I may be over-simplifying it, but couldn't the top-swap howto be a pretty good starting point for how to change the HG's. The heads are the bottom part of the top-swap. You might have to extrapolate the tear down, but the rebuild should all be in there. Just skip over the unnecessary parts like the harmonic balancer and pulleys.

[Bedwards]

I may be over-simplifying it, but couldn't the top-swap howto be a pretty good starting point for how to change the HG's. The heads are the bottom part of the top-swap. You might have to extrapolate the tear down, but the rebuild should all be in there. Just skip over the unnecessary parts like the harmonic balancer and pulleys.

Yup. It'll work.

[CHAMPS97]

thanks tdm i'll check it out

[Swiggles]

heres a video on how to do the lim gasket, its pretty easy.

http://www.cpaclubgp.com/misc/lim-gasket.html you might need to install a plug in to watch it.

if you havent already it would be a good time to switch to green coolant.

[fremmy182]

why green coolent?

[torq455]

Gold coolant is good too.

[fremmy182]

i watched the video, and they take extra stuff out for the lifters. i was wondering if anyone knows what parts i can leave in while changing the lower intake mani gasket. i dont want to take extra parts off that i dont have to, like the pulleys, etc. thanks guys

and also is that the only gasket i need or is there other gaskets to replace while taking the top all apart

[Curt7]

Let me know how your job goes! Ripping my motor apart next weekend to do upper and lower intake gaskets, upper plenum and the 2 elbows that are very common for leaking. Elbows are only 20 bucks for the two so be sure to do those why'll your in there!

[fremmy182]

where are the elbows

[Curt7]

There are two elbows. I know the one is pointed out in this picture which i found online but not 100% sure where the other is.

[fremmy182]

i have a supercharger i dont think my coolant elbow is there

[matt5112]

Oh but they are....