KBAM

Well, did the oil on my 3vze 91 and I seem to have sprung a leak. Coming from the HG near the #6 cyl. Looks like it's been leaking for a bit by the amount of crud back there, and the fresh oil comes through a little easier than the old stuff from the PO. (And no water/coolant was in the oil, I think I caught it just at the right time)

Compiling a parts list- let me know if you think I'm missing anything or should do anything else while I'm in there....

Gasket set from Egnbldr.com
New head bolts from egnbldr.com
Will have the heads/cams inspected at a local shop
Injectors flow tested at same shop


It's due for a new timing belt, water pump. Will be getting a new rad & hoses (unrelated, it took a small rock somewhere along the line and got a pinhole drip. good timing of it all....) Anything else Im missing?

DeclansDaddy

I'm currently doing the same job. I'd recommend an oil pump while you've got it this far.

KBAM

Did pull the engine for that or can you drop the pan without pulling? I didn't think about the pump.

scope103

You'll need a set of crush washers for the fuel lines/rails (they are one time use, dealer only, but still cheaper than dirt). You should replace the knock sensor pigtail just on principle. Look at the TVV (between throttle body and evap canister); they often have a nipple (or both) broken off. Check the Fuel Pressure Damper for leaking; if not leaking, it's fine. Replace the belts (unless they are almost brand new), oil filter, air filter. PCV valve, and you'll need to replace the grommet (Dorman item, easy to find).

Before you do all of that, I'd clean up the leak site really well (spray degreaser and a garden hose), and then try it again. A leak from the valve cover gasket drips downhill; you don't want to feel forced to replace a head gasket when it was a valve cover gasket you needed.

You'll need a paint pen (or a wite-out pen) to mark the head bolts when tightening. Don't forget the camera, pad of paper, pen, a sharpie and a box of zip-lock bags you will use to store nuts, bolts, small parts. (You don't want to be the "where does this part go?" guy.) Consider getting a cheap plastic mortar tub to use to clean parts. (You should clean the inside of the plenum, unless you want to pay the shop to do it for you.)

Odin

Daym scope, sounds like you've done this repair a time or two.

KBAM

Damn good info ^ Thanks scope

bswarm

^Good idea scope^ Unless some joker throws a handful of extra parts in there. How'd these Quadrajet parts get in my Aisan carb rebuild?

DeclansDaddy

You don't have to pull anything. Oil pump bolts to the front of the motor behind the harmonic balancer. Just have to be real careful when putting the new one on to make sure it seals against the pan good.

KBAM

Don't ask why, but for whatever reason I was thinking oil pickup and typing oil pump. Do'h! Thank you.

Awesome. Some parts have been ordered, others (like the crush washers and knock sensor pigtail) still are on tap.

scope103

Thinking about it, I remembered you'll need a flex-head wrench something like this:

to get to the nuts on the exhaust cross-over:

(If you have the right wrench, these are easy. Otherwise ...)
Since the bolts to the exhaust pipe are accessed from underneath and behind, you'll need about 18" worth of extensions. Do yourself a favor and invest in some long 1/2" drive extensions; using 6-3" 3/8" drive extensions is, well, hilarious.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-pc-12...set-67977.html (and don't use your good wobble-head extensions; you are VERY likely to break one)

KBAM

Just a friendly update- Started working on this over the weekend. My knock sensor pigtail connector crumbled when I touched it. The TVV had both nipples broken off. And one of my injectors ( # 4 cyl, nozzle end of the injector) looked like it was cut like a pizza. Not sure if that was more of a manufacturing default or not. It was too "perfect" looking in my mind to be anything else.

Aside from that, every coolant hose I touched cracked upon removal. I figure, if i'm going to be doing all those, might as well get the vac hoses as well. They are all "okay", but I can tell they aren't new. Might as well add it to the list.

Anyway, I've got the intake end of things taken care of, now its time for the heads. Taking my time with this, enjoying the journey. Fun project.

KBAM

Heads are off. Whoever designed the crossover pipe deserves whatever bad thing they have coming to them. Holy hell. Heads are going out Monday to be serviced.