since i bought the Monte Carlo back in January, the intake gasket has been leaking. Yesterday, on my way to work, it finally started to gush. I've got spend my weekend off taking the intake off the top of the engine. I figured that while I had it apart, I'd change the plugs and wire, thermostat, paint the intake and the rocker covers. Next weekend is the front crank seal.

i thought the monte carlo was your winter beater?

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! i thought the monte carlo was your winter beater?

i drive it to work most of the time... the stack from the powerhouse has salt and flyash as fallout...and i never did find out if the vandalism happened at work or in albany at a river rats game.
the Monte is my foul weather car.

Posted by Samurai paint the intake and the rocker covers.

R u SRS ?

Posted by sYnOnYx R u SRS ?

is it your car?
then stifle.

is still greater than
?

drive the red one and then tell me that the top one is better... the 5.3L FWD is an animal.

The first time I did intake gaskets on a 3.1 like 6-7 years ago, I mixed up two of the pushrods.

Bent valve, broken pushrod and a really interesting sound when I first started it. Oops!


I've done about 200 since then...

I've noticed that the really great mechanics can easily talk and laugh about making mistakes.

While the bunged up assholes that never admit to a mistake, or ridicule others for making mistakes, are generally the most insecure in their abilities.

well here's the update on the Monte Carlo... oh boy. I am finding out more and more about the old MC. It was wrecked in the not too distant pass. From what we can gather, the car was driven under something, like a tractor trailer or pickup bumper where the upper intake had been sheared off. The heads and intake were wearing junkyard numbers and paint. The heads have been off the car before. From what it looks like when the heads were changed, the mechanic working on the car left the old intake gaskets in the car and just used black RTV to stop of the broken area in the gasket. The old intake gaskets were broken in three places. The plug wires? Factory. The spark plugs? Factory...

Posted by Samurai well here's the update on the Monte Carlo... oh boy. I am finding out more and more about the old MC. It was wrecked in the not too distant pass. From what we can gather, the car was driven under something, like a tractor trailer or pickup bumper where the upper intake had been sheared off. The heads and intake were wearing junkyard numbers and paint. The heads have been off the car before. From what it looks like when the heads were changed, the mechanic working on the car left the old intake gaskets in the car and just used black RTV to stop of the broken area in the gasket. The old intake gaskets were broken in three places. The plug wires? Factory. The spark plugs? Factory...

Holy shit

Posted by cr400 I've noticed that the really great mechanics can easily talk and laugh about making mistakes. While the bunged up assholes that never admit to a mistake, or ridicule others for making mistakes, are generally the most insecure in their abilities.

Heh... my first engine mechanical experience was when I was 14 and had an '84 Dodge Omni for a field car. The timing belt came off, I had NO IDEA what I timing belt was for. Got the Haynes manual out, thought it seemed way too precise, so I decided to fix it my way.

Couldn't get it to slide back on the pulley... so I put a slit in the belt to make it easier to get on.

Wreckers picked it up the day after...

Warning!!! You should probably take a piss before reading any further!!

Sorry to Hijack, Sam. But I know it will get appreciated here.

I used to drive recovery tow trucks when wheel lifts first came about, I would drive to work in my personal truck Fri morning, run P.D. calls and work the yard all day. At the end of the day I would then tow my personal truck home, and then run calls from home all weekend long.

Monday morning I would tow my personal vehicle back to the tow yard, work the yard and run calls for the day, and then drive my own truck home.

But on this particular Monday morn, I must have been hung over or sumpthin'
'Cause as I rounded the corner, within sight of the shop, my own truck separated from the tow truck, it continued straight about 75 feet, bumped up a small curb, bumped up three small steps, nudged a double glass shop door, and reversed course. The reverse was of course slightly downhill. I jumped out of the tow truck, running and digging for my keys to get in and stop my truck that is slowly picking up speed, I jump in yank the E brake on my truck, just as the tow truck rolls backwards past the truck I just stopped!!!! Running along side I dive thru the window and hit the brakes with my hand!!!! All is now stopped and safe.

I look down the street, all of the other drivers were rolling around in the street!! They said it was the most amazing thing they had ever seen. I am a legend, just not the good kind.

i just got back from working on that fucking thing. from the first time we put wrench to it, that fucking black cunt of a car has fought me. About 10 minutes ago, i thought were were just about done when I look down at the accessory side of the engine and there is the lead for the cam sensor dangling... can't find the other end of it... anywhere.
it just mysteriously vanished...

i have just about had enough of cars.
i had to leave or i was going to start sending wrenches through the windshield.

Posted by cr400 Warning!!! You should probably take a piss before reading any further!!

I've done, well versions of that myself and yes it's always so much better with an audience.

had to unwire the other end of the crank sensor feed and fish it through the upper intake/fuel rail and managed to rewire it. My boy should have it finished tomorrow or the next day before he heads to work. I'm getting really sick of cars.

Sam that's probably why my strategy of having multiple piles of shit to drive
has worked out so well for me, I always have something to get me to work for a week at a time.

I have had multiple vehicles break down during the week, and that suck balls.

I'm sure things will work out with the Monte, wish I could stop by and help.
Good Luck!!!!

update... Well, the Monte Carlo lived, for about 5 minutes yesterday. Once the thermostat opened, it gushed coolant from a bypass line that runs from the thermostat housing. I forgot to put an o-ring in. So, the upper plenum has to come off... AGAIN! But, at least it ran and sounded good. Should have it back by the weekend. Just in time to fix the power steering return line, passenger side ball joint and driver side tie rod end... should be motherfucking tip top by then.

It just gets bigger and better the deeper you get lodged in these fuckin' cars
You are aware that if you had bought a FORD, you wouldn't be in this situation?

yeah but the heartbeat of america is chevrolet! and sam isnt going to change