gm 3800 intake manifold gasket

was wanting some pointers on changing the upper intake and lower intake manifold gasket on a 3.8 gm engine. the upper looks easy but how about the lower.

thank you

forgot to mention it is a 1997 series II 3.8 olds 88

Go to "Garage Journal" and search , we've had extensive discussions about it , and I think a video how -to !

Isn't the 3.8 the one with the plastic intake plenum? (or am I thinking the 3.4??).. Has been about a year since we have changed any intake gaskets now, so my memory is slightly jogged..

If you have the plastic plenum, you'll likely find that the plenum is burned through where the EGR pipe is (inside the plenum). NAPA sells the kit with the gaskets and plenum and you change the "tube" for the EGR so it isn't tight to the plastic like original. (Oh, and the PCV valve is hidden down inside there somewhere on a Bonneville, assume the same on others)

Dad and I have done both the 3.4 and 3.8 (I just can never keep them straight) a couple times.. Not too bad really. Every time we get a touch faster, but, we are no professionals, just back-yard guys that do most of the family's wrenching (and we have a BIG family LOL)

Oh, there is a plastic water elbow on the passenger side (fan belt side).. Do yourself a favor and change that too if your application has it... They are in the "HELP" section at O'Reillys (about 10 bucks).. We tried re using the originals 2 times, and both times the elbows began to leak.. they are usually quite brittle and break upon disassembly though.

Good luck

Brad

If I remember correctly this engine may also have unequal length pushrods so keep everything in order. Brad is right about the brittle water connections. Poor design. Gerard

It is not a difficult repair but it is time consuming, 6 or 7 hours, more if it is your first one. Don't go cheap! After all that work, put in the new parts it needs and especially use the top quality sealers as recommended.