Hey my names Eric and i just joined the forum. i just bought a 2003 chevy monte carlo SS 3.8L V6. any advice on what i should look out for with the car? the coolant elbow just started leaking so im replacing it but are there any easy tricks to getting it out?

Pics of the car to come later on.
thanks for any advice and warnings

 

I bought a silver '03 SS new and drove it for three years before it was totaled in an accident. I loved mine, and I'm sure you'll love yours. Sorry, I can't be of help with your question. My car didn't survive long enough to have any mechanical troubles. I look forward to seeing pics of your car!

 

welcome to mcf!! factory lower intake manifold gaskets like to go bad on these engines, if you replace them with the better aluminum gaskets is fixes the issue. fyi they also make aluminum coolant elbows instead of the crappy plastic ones

 

Welcome !! Turbo Monte took then words out of my mouth I is 1 of the first. Mods to do to your monte

 

I was actually thinking of using aluminum because alot of people on the forum said it lasts longer. are there any tricks to getting the elbow out easier or is it just simpler to remove the whole intake and just replace the gasket too? and do i need to remove the valve covers to get the intake off?

 

the coolant eblows just pull out once you remove the alt and unbolt the alt bracket/tensioner assembly. if i were you i would pull the VC since you are already that far and replace the gasket. simple to do once you are this far into the project. replace VC gaskets, LIM gaskets, coolant elbows, reuse plenum gasket and your good to go

 

check the fuel injector o rings to make sure they didnt get torn or dry rotted and if there fine reuse if not replace them there cheap. little secret when installing the fuel rail and seating injectors put some vaseline on the injector o rings and they will pop right in

 

the LIM gasket and the UIM gasket were both replaced not long ago by the previous owner so im going to replace the valve cover gaskets along with the coolant elbow but im changing the elbow with an aluminum one just with GM o rings. any advice on removing the valve cover gaskets? like is there any simple way to remove them that i should try?

 

Welcome to the site

 

Welcome to the Forum..