Intake manifold leak at valley

Subject: Intake manifold leak at valley Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:21 pm

Hello, everyone. I just want to start off saying that I know this is a Riviera forum and not an Eldorado forum, but my Riv hasn't come to me yet. Well, actually my money hasn't come to me yet lol

, but it will! I do intend to have a Riviera in the next couple months or so, so........ soon! Hopefully my friend Mark will see this post.

Well, I have a 1980 Eldorado that has a 5.7L 350 fuel injected (these engines were used in some Rivieras; don't know about the fuel injection in the Rivs confused

) . A while back, when I was around 14, #1 cylinder had a bent intake valve, so the intake manifold had to be removed. When my uncle and his friend reinstalled it (I uninstalled most of it and they installed most of it), they messed up the back seal that runs along the block, sealing up the valley that contains the lifters and push-rods. A corner is puckered out, so oil slowly drains out, burns, and smokes. I'm tired of breathing burnt oil in the cab!

I have the gasket set, but it's a HUGE job to do. My $450 a/c compressor has to be removed, one million and a half vacuum lines have to be disconnected, 50,000 wires......... So, a neighbor who has been working on cars for about 50 years suggested that I loosen the manifold, prop it up, push the seal back in, and re-tighten it to see if that will work. I'd just have to drain the coolant and loosen the manifold bolts. What do you guys think? How big is the risk of a coolant leak into a combustion chamber?

Again, I apologize for posting about this car on this forum, but I figured because these used an engine that was an option for a '79-'80 Riv, so I guessed it would be ok. Please feel free to delete this or move it if I'm in the wrong section and I'm sorry if I broke any rules. I won't make any more car-help posts for this car here any more. I appreciate the help and I hope everyone is having a happy 4th!

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:12 pm

Do you know offhand if this used the Buick 350 or the Chevy 350? A picture would help.

We are all car guys, some of us familiar with the old ones. You posted in the correct 'other' forum, so all's well! smile

Is that one of the FWD rear-facing V8s like the early 70's eldos?
_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Pulley Boys MPS 3.2, AL 104s, 180 stat, 1.9 H/S-Intense Gen3 rockers, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj. ET goal in 2008 = mid-13s

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:23 pm

Hey, Derek. It is actually an Oldsmobile 350. The only Caddy's that had this engine were from California. I figured the 350 in the Rivs were the same oops

. Yes, it is a rear-facing front wheel drive like the older Eldorados. It has a strange drivetrain setup. I was actually told that these had a drive chain.

Do you mean a picture of the spot? We have an older digital camera that I don't think will focus in on that. Because it's a small area (1/4" to a 1/2"), I decided to try cleaning it with alcohol and placing some silicone gasket sealer on it. I pressed it into the space and on the surface. It might work, but I won't hold my breath!

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:41 pm

Oh man, I lost my post before sending it again.

I'm here Danny, get back to you tomorrow.

Mark
_________________
'82 Red Firemist Astroroof w/ Maple interior & a tired 307
'80 White w/ Burgundy interior, my $25 parts car, sweet 350 Olds
'94 Cavalier station wagon - daily drive now and a great parts hauler

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:57 pm

Hey, Mark! Good to talk to you. Don't worry, I loose posts like that too. I won't be touching this thing again untill tomorrow afternoon anyway.

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:21 am

The olds 350 admittedly is one I haven't worked on. (455 yes, 350 no). But take a general picture of the engine bay with the air cleaner out of the way and we should be able to help determine how difficult it will really be. I've done plenty of intake gaskets for various purposes. The hardest part will be brittle vacuum lines or carb base gaskets deteriorating, things like that. The manifold itself is not that difficult.
_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Pulley Boys MPS 3.2, AL 104s, 180 stat, 1.9 H/S-Intense Gen3 rockers, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj. ET goal in 2008 = mid-13s

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:37 pm

Ok, I could do that. Like I say, I have done this before on this car. It took me a very long time the first time (different fittings attached for 26 years or so at the time), granted though that I've become much more experienced than I was then too. I could probably do the job in a day. Things like loosing my a/c bug me. We just spent around $450-$500 getting that fixed (bad expansion valve). Fortunately, I can recharge it myself. I will get the picture in a bit. Thank you for your help!

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:19 pm

Hello. I tried cleaning the area, applying silicone in the space/on the surface. So far so good! No more smoke, no more smell. I'll just have to see how well it holds up. Thanks.

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:09 pm

Hi Danny,

I'm glad your have your leak problem fixed.

Listen friend, I may be wrong, and if any of the admins want to set me right I'll stand corrected, but I don't see any reason why you can't post what you want on RivPerformance. Your car is a cousin of our Riv's and in actuality the Eldorados and Toronados set the stage for the first FWD Riviera's, mine included.

There are folks on this sight who don't own Riviera's or one of our older cousin's like you do, and they are still welcomed. If we had our own catagory, you wouldn't need to post in "Other".

I may not post often, but I'll still be here Danny.

Mark
_________________
'82 Red Firemist Astroroof w/ Maple interior & a tired 307
'80 White w/ Burgundy interior, my $25 parts car, sweet 350 Olds
'94 Cavalier station wagon - daily drive now and a great parts hauler

Subject: Re: Intake manifold leak at valley Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:02 pm

Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it. I'm just glad that I didn't have to do any major work to fix it (at least for now). Thank for being a good friend to me. If you have any computer trouble, I may be able to help you with that! Just ask!

Thanks friend,
Danny