sorry chebby question

[macadoo1961]

Okay don't give me a rough time for posting this as it's a GM question, but hey I figure lots of you guys wrench and drive some brand X vehicles as well. Two years ago I pulled and replaced the intake gaskets on our GMC safari van with a 4.3 vortec v6, leaking coolant. I used fellpro gaskets and permatex the right stuff good quality silcone. All has been good till this weekend, the dam thing is leaking again:bs: I don't think its anything I did 2yrs ago, everything was squeky clean, and like I say its held up for 2yrs now. Has anyone had bad experiances with chevy 4.3 intakes or is it just me. I know I've heard people complain about chev small block manifolds leaking, but I haven't heard much on the 4.3 other than good comments. Any thoughts? Buried in a mini van body this is a pain in the butt to do:munky2:again. thanks......(yeah I know shoulda bought a Caravan LOL!)

 

[catsncudas]

What year van is it? If it had the plastic intake gaskets, they are junk. GM updated them to aluminum with a sealing bead on them. If they were the old style paper gaskets and everything was clean, I'd check the aluminum heater hose connectors on the intake, as they get pretty soft and will crack. I work at a GM/Toyota dealer and see both problems a lot. Let me know if this helps.

 

[macadoo1961]

What year van is it? If it had the plastic intake gaskets, they are junk. GM updated them to aluminum with a sealing bead on them. If they were the old style paper gaskets and everything was clean, I'd check the aluminum heater hose connectors on the intake, as they get pretty soft and will crack. I work at a GM/Toyota dealer and see both problems a lot. Let me know if this helps.

Thanks for the input, the van is a '98 with just over 120,000miles on it,the original gaskets were plastic and fell apart, yep junk. The felpro gaskets I used I can't honestly remember what they were made of, I kinda think they were maybe plastic too (ahh crap!) I know what your talking about with the heater hose fitting, it is leaking just at the hose, I was all excited when I saw this and thought it was the only problem, but its on the pass side and when I did a pressure test upto about 14lbs cold I could see coolant coming out along the drivers side of the manifold too. So you say the updated GM ones are aluminum? Thanks a bunch, I know what I'll be buying for replacements, don't want to be doing this again. If ya got any thing else to add fell free I appriciate the help:cheers:

 

[catsncudas]

Yeah that plastic design leaves a lot to be desired. Just use the new style aluminum ones and torque them to 12 foot pounds. I would replace that aluminum heater hose connector with the updated steel one if you are planning to keep the van just to save you a hassle later on. They like to break off in the manifold.

 

[blown71duster]

Fel pro makes the updated ones too , called perma dry plus, metal style . Our local napa store carries felpro now. I always use loctite on the intake bolts too.

 

[macadoo1961]

Thanks guys, I knew I'd find some help here:cheers:

 

[DartSportGreg]

My girlfriend has got a 98 Blazer with the 4.3, just ent through the same ordeal. As if being a Chevy wasn't enough of a factory flaw.