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1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket


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dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 3:32 PM

Post #1 of 20 (2478 views)
post icon 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Alright Here Is The Vehicle Information:

1990 Pontiac Transport Van
3.1L V6 Engine
172,000 miles

After removing the intake manifold to repair quick disconnect fitting I inspected the intake manifold gakets. There is no cracks or wear on the intake manifold gaskets. Is it possible to simply replace the manifold on the existing gaskets, and using gasket maker to guard against any possible leaks to avoid having to remove the rocker arms and push rods which would be required if new gaskets are installed? Has anyone been in this situation before and had experience with this? I know the by the book answer, but am looking for someone who can give me a realistic answer. Thanks in advance.


Hammer Time
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Sep 30, 2012, 5:02 PM

Post #2 of 20 (2447 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

You gotta be kidding. You want to try to re-use a 3.1 intake gasket. That's insane. Probably the dumbest idea I've heard in years.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Sep 30, 2012, 5:58 PM

Post #3 of 20 (2438 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

My realistic answer is I don't recommend it either.

That's like changing a baby's diaper, cleaning his/her's ass, and then sticking the old diaper back on.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 30, 2012, 6:00 PM)


dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 6:07 PM

Post #4 of 20 (2433 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

If replacing with a new gasket and I need to take off the rocker arms and pushrods to put the gasket on, will I then have to do something to the valves to get them to the right position again, or can I just bolt the rocker arm back down, and it will be in the right position? Cant get anyone to pick the vehicle up or show up for the gasket replacement.


Hammer Time
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Sep 30, 2012, 6:11 PM

Post #5 of 20 (2428 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In


Quote
Cant get anyone to pick the vehicle up or show up for the gasket replacement.


Of course not. Why would any tech want to come to your house and take over the mess someone else took apart?
The big thing you have to watch out for is not to mix up the push rods. they are different length for intake and exhaust.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 6:18 PM

Post #6 of 20 (2424 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

I had to remove it as I did have two people that were going to come by but never showed up, then called to reschedule and never showed up. It is our only vehicle, down for over a week, and being self employed that means our income stops, they told me what they were going to do so I got as far as I was comfortable, then they still didnt show up. Anyhow, I read that on some vehicles you need to manuallly crank the engine to get certain pistons at top dead center, then do something with the valves on 3 of the cylinders etc etc. But I also heard that on this engine you can just remove the rocker arms, replace the gasket, then replace the rocker arms. I also did find out that the exhaust and intake push rods are different sizes and to be sure the you keep all of them in exact order and replace them in the exact place they came from. But can I just remove the rockers arms and pushrods, replace gasket and put the push rod in the correct place, and simply bolt the rocker arms back on with no adjusting of the valves? Then replace the manifold and valve covers?


Discretesignals
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Sep 30, 2012, 6:25 PM

Post #7 of 20 (2419 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

I don't think you have to remove the push rods on that one to replace the intake manifold gaskets. Just slide the old gaskets out and slide the new ones back in. Use a 5mm bead of RTV on the ridges and some in the corners. The later (M) 3.1L you have to remove the push rods.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 30, 2012, 6:26 PM)


dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 6:31 PM

Post #8 of 20 (2416 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Thanks for the info. With the Manifold off I can see the pushrods in there, and the top of the gasket is behind the rod and the bottom of the gasket is in front of the rod. There is a curve in the gasket to accomodate the rod on the bottom. I can get the rocker arms and pushrods out, but dont want to go any further without knowing if I have to adjust the valves on this engine, or if I can just remove, replace gasket and bolt the rocker back in.


Hammer Time
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Sep 30, 2012, 6:51 PM

Post #9 of 20 (2410 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Yes, the pushrods have to be removed as they pass through the gasket.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Sep 30, 2012, 6:55 PM

Post #10 of 20 (2406 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

I guess I was wrong, you do have to remove several push rods to get the gasket free. You just want to remove the push rods that are keeping the gasket on. There is a trick you can do, so you don't have to remove rocker arm.

You rotate the cam so the push rod's lifter on the base of the cam lobe and that cylinder's piston is down. Then use a crows foot and long handle ratchet on the rocker arm to compress the spring, so you can pop the push rod off. That way you don't have to adjust valves. They do actually make a special tool for that under $20. The tool works a lot better than the crows foot method in my opinion.




Lisle48500 Push Rod Remover for GM to easily replace intake gasket







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 30, 2012, 7:04 PM)


dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 7:01 PM

Post #11 of 20 (2398 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Yes the rods pass through the gasket, but when the new gasket is installed and I replace the rod in the correct slot, can I just bolt on the rocker arm, and not worry about have to do some sort of adjustment on the valves?


Discretesignals
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Sep 30, 2012, 7:07 PM

Post #12 of 20 (2396 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

edited post...read ^^^^





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


dougnsheena
User

Sep 30, 2012, 8:51 PM

Post #13 of 20 (2388 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Thanks so much for the advice, we are currently trying to find the tool now. Seems as if it's a little on the rare side. The places that we've called say they do not carry it. Any recomendations?


Hammer Time
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Oct 1, 2012, 3:03 AM

Post #14 of 20 (2379 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

If you don't find the tool.




Valve Lash Adjustment


With #1 cylinder at firing position TDC, tighten intake valves 1, 5, 6 and exhaust valves 1, 2, 3 1 1/2-turns past zero lash. Next, bring #4 cylinder to firing position TDC and tighten intake valves 2, 3, 4 and exhaust valves 4, 5, 6 1 1/2-turns past zero lash.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



dougnsheena
User

Oct 1, 2012, 9:32 AM

Post #15 of 20 (2371 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Would a valve spring compressor do the same job? I found one with a bar and a fork and a 45 degree angle at the end


Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 1, 2012, 9:45 AM

Post #16 of 20 (2370 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Sears lists one or more just for that tool #.

Couldn't guess if what you have will do the job or cause a problem?

Tool # again listed by DS was........ Lisle48500 Push Rod Remover............

Good luck with Sears lately if one close by. Here they are looking like they are shutting the doors!

T



Hammer Time
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Oct 1, 2012, 10:16 AM

Post #17 of 20 (2366 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In


Quote
Would a valve spring compressor do the same job?


No, that's a good way for one of the keepers to fall out and lose the valve into the cylinder. Then you would be screwed.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



nickwarner
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Oct 2, 2012, 5:53 PM

Post #18 of 20 (2347 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Every parts store in the country can get you that tool. Just because its not there that day doesn't mean its not in the warehouse and can be in the next day. Call some tool stores. Find the number for the local SnapOn, Matco or Mac tool reps in your area. Any shop will have their number. Call the reps and see if they have one on the truck and where their next stop will be so you can meet them there and buy it.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 2, 2012, 5:58 PM

Post #19 of 20 (2345 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Here's one place to by it with a part number to search other places.

http://www.tooltopia.com/lisle-48500.aspx



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



dougnsheena
User

Oct 14, 2012, 10:48 AM

Post #20 of 20 (2294 views)
Re: 1990 Pontiac Transport-Replacing Intake Manifold Gasket Sign In

Got the tool, and was able to replace the intake manifold. It has been a while but wanted to thank you for information I probably never would have received or thought of. The Van is working perfectly, no leaks, great idle. Thanks again for all the help.






 
 
 






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