I need to replace both my intake and oil pan gaskets. Question is, how hard is it really to do the intake? I've actually had mechanics tell me they won't touch the 3.5L because it is a ***** to do the intake. I've read my Haynes manual and stuff, and to me it doesn't seem to be all that difficult. The garage where I always take my cars wants to charge me about 5 hours labour to do both. He charges something like $67 an hour. I found out the price of the gaskets and I was shocked at how cheap it was. I was expecting like 3 times the price. So, since I have all the tools I'll ever need in life (my dad was a mechanic for like 40 years) I was thinking of saving a few hundred bucks and doing the jobs myself. So anyone who has ever done it.....how hard is it really to do and how long did it take?
Doing my Intake and oil pan gaskets
Ken
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I need to replace both my intake and oil pan gaskets. Question is, how hard is it really to do the intake? I've actually had mechanics tell me they won't touch the 3.5L because it is a ***** to do the intake. I've read my Haynes manual and stuff, and to me it doesn't seem to be all that difficult. The garage where I always take my cars wants to charge me about 5 hours labour to do both. He charges something like $67 an hour. I found out the price of the gaskets and I was shocked at how cheap it was. I was expecting like 3 times the price. So, since I have all the tools I'll ever need in life (my dad was a mechanic for like 40 years) I was thinking of saving a few hundred bucks and doing the jobs myself. So anyone who has ever done it.....how hard is it really to do and how long did it take?
I did my valve cover seals a week ago. It was very difficult becuase of all the stuff to remove, the main chore being the plenum. The plenum is very heavy and I smashed my finger with it good. The throttle linkage bracket has to be removed with the throttle and cruise control lines. Watch all the hard plastic vacuum lines.. I snapped one located on the underside by the throttle bracket becuase I didn't see it. To do the valve covers.. I had to unbolt and tilt the AC compressor over. Anyway.. be careful and watch the vacuum lines as they snap fairly easily. It took me many hours to do the entire valve cover seal repair.. I did it over a period of two days and in 6 degree weather and then drove over 300 miles on it 
but it held ok.
but it held ok.Just wondering what kind of sealant I should use on my gaskets. Is there something at Canadian Tire (I'm Canadian) I can buy to put on there? Also, since I'll already be in there, I'm going to take out the injectors and give them a good cleaning. What should I clean them in? Is varsol okay for this?
peter T. The throttle cables are snap into the bracket. Squeeze the ears together and slide them out, no need to remove the bracket.
Ken. It's not too hard, just time consuming. The front and rearmost lower intake bolt sometimes break.
This might be a good time to change old hoses, fuel system O rings and EGR.
Ken. It's not too hard, just time consuming. The front and rearmost lower intake bolt sometimes break.
This might be a good time to change old hoses, fuel system O rings and EGR.
jfsram - I did plan on taking out my injectors and cleaning them and putting them back in with new o rings. I was also going to give my intake a good cleaning too. I've actually already bought the gaskets and stuff. I didn't buy the EGR yet though. Will that alone help the car much? I think it was about $95 or so here just for the assembly. If it's really worth it then I'll buy and change that too. I also bought 4 quarts of ATF +4 to flush the tranny. I'll tell ya, when I'm done this nothing else better go wrong with this car for a long, long time. In the past year that I've owned the car I have replaced the plugs, wires, various vacuum hoses, rad hoses, breaks and rotors all around, new Michelin X Ones, catalytic converter, ball joints, sway bar, 2 tie rods, hmm I don't really remember the rest. Too much to remember..... lol
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