Thread: Need Advice on 97 GTP

Alright everyone - here is the final verdict!

..........

I bought the car for $3000 with the fixed window switch.

I drove it directly to a dealership to have it looked at.... and they said everything was up to top shape on it. I had them do a regular oil change, and I decided to do the supercharger fluid myself.

However, there is a minor oil leak coming from the intake manifold which they quoted me at $900. Luckily, right after that, I went over to my buddy's house and his stepdad has worked on the 3.8L and has already had to replace the intake manifold on his Impala. He said he would do the job for me when it warms up for the cost of parts and $20 an hour as long as I helped him. He said it should only take about 4 hours to get the job done because you have to take a lot of parts off. Sounds great to me because I could use the experience!

Otherwise the car has been driving great all day long with NO issues what-so-ever. I'm very happy with the car so far, and will clean it up tomorrow and take some pictures.

Thanks everyone for your quick, yet helpful input and I'm very happy to finally be a GTP owner!

Originally Posted by GreenNirvana101

However, there is a minor oil leak coming from the intake manifold which they quoted me at $900. Luckily, right after that, I went over to my buddy's house and his stepdad has worked on the 3.8L and has already had to replace the intake manifold on his Impala. He said he would do the job for me when it warms up for the cost of parts and $20 an hour as long as I helped him. He said it should only take about 4 hours to get the job done because you have to take a lot of parts off. Sounds great to me because I could use the experience!

With regards to the intake manifold gasket. Im assuming lower intake manifold gasket:

1. Do yourself a favor, go to ZZP and order the updated aluminum LIM gaskets (again, assuming you are speaking of the Lower Intake Manifold). They are something like $50 and well worth the money.

2. Go to either the local GM dealer or to a parts store help section, like Autozone and get the coolant elbows. If you look at your LIM from the passenger side down below the nose drive, you'll see one of the coolant elbows. Replace them now if you're going to do that work as they can be prone to cracking.

3. Kiss your oil change good bye. You'll need to change it again because it is likely you will dump coolant into the engine when you pull off the LIM. Get an extra quart or two of oil the pour into the valley. Of course, be sure to have the oil drain bolt pulled out so it will pour through and wash out the coolant.

4. Now is a GREAT time to do your coolant change since you'll have to drain the coolant anyway and you might as well change out the upper and lower radiator hoses. If you dont change them out, be sure to pull the lower hose so you drain more of the coolant out.

5. If you need a new serpentine belt for the accessories or the blower, now is a fantastic time to take care of that.

6. Of course, plugs wires, thermostat and all that can be changed now with ease.

7. Oh and without a doubt, be sure to get valve cover gaskets. The OEM gaskets are prone to leaking and you might as well change them now since it will be easier to do. BE SURE you get gaskets for the GTP/L67 engine as they are different from the GT/L36 engine.

8. Obviously, since you have to pull the fuel rail, this is a great time to replace all the injector O-rings. In fact I would not do the job without them.

9. Dont forget all the gaskets you'll need. Supercharger gasket, Lower Intake Manifold gasket (obviously), throttle body gasket (if you separate the throttle body from the supercharger, you dont have to though), etc.

I know it seems like a lot, but if you are doing the Lower Intake Manifold, you have to pull the fuel rails, the supercharger and obviously the lower intake manifold to do the work and all the other stuff will be much easier to do now. Yes, its added money, but if you do it now you will have it out of the way instead of it popping up on you at inopportune times. Also, dont forget either some blue loctite or thread sealant as I believe it is needed either on the super charger bolts or the LIM bolts, or both. Also, there is a tightening sequence to the LIM bolts, they have to be done in a particular order. And please use a torque wrench (I assume your buddy's stepdad would have one, but it cant hurt to mention it).

I guess thats it. And again Im working from the assumption by manifold leak you were referring to the Lower Intake Manifold, so if thats not it then obviously I spent all this time typing all this up for no reason