Are they known to fail in the LA1 (3400)? I have a 2000 Monte LS... My intake gaskets are leaking (between the each heads and lower intake) so they need to be replaced...

I asked about the head gasket because im 3/4 of the way there, so should i replace them while im there? I don't think they are leaking, but not 100%, doesn't seem to be any oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil (just changed my oil this week-end actually)

Also, while im at it (probably going to change the intake gasket early may as it gets nicer) is there anything else i should be replacing that would be worth it (maybe 200-300$ more?)
would buying a ported intake set be worth the money? i have no other mods to the car... a gasket set is 140-180$ (ducking canadian prices!!) and i can get a ported set for 300$ USD (but lets face it, with the way the USD is going, that will be 250$ CND by may) including gasket from either wottech or mms (which would you recomand most btw) or is useless without the ported heads?

 

Porting the lower intake is pointless unless you port the heads. I would say WOTTECH over MMS, just because of a bad experience with Milzy. Porting the upper intake would give you a bit of gain though. How many miles are on the motor? If it's less than 100k, don't worry about the head gaskets. Over 100k though, go ahead. Port the heads.

 

x2, you don't want the LIM outlet opened up running stock heads or you'll have a step there- bad for flow...

 

Yes, the 3400 is know to get leaking head gaskets, and LIM/ HIM gaskets. I would just change all the gaskets while you are at it.

 

Well the engine has 207,000 km on it (about 130,000 miles) like i said in some other threads before, im 99% sure nothing has been done on the car before i bought it (165,000 km /105,000 miles)... damn it...

so as long as my bottom end is still in decent shape (from the way she moves id say she still has damn good compression, but ill double check that) i will redo my entire top end... its not something one should a step at time (be wasting alot of money on gaskets!)

The pic (plus timing chain, 99% sure its original)is what im planning on doing as long as i have still have good compression, if not then i will till next summer to build a brand new engine..