Did my LIM today

[Grims01GT]

I got it done under warranty and got paid to do it myself at work....Kinda a PITA but it was a success no leaks as of yet. This was my first, Now to do the wifes car next

[Sveach]

Lucky, got paid to do it. I did mine in 9 hours, just me and a guy that is a hobbyist mechanic.

I hated doing it, but I'm soooo glad I did it. Mine was so bad I could dump coolant into the reservoir, and it would be gone within 5 minutes of driving. I've got about 15k miles on mine after that, and no leaks yet. Oil always looks good too.

[stewartfn20]

yea i did mine about 2 months ago and my god what a PITA. My biggest problem was getting the bolts back on for the PS pump. I smell a little coolant burning but just did an oil change yesterday and it looked fine. Prrobably just a little spillage from replacing the T-Stat.

[burbot]

When does the LIM need replacing? I am looking at a 2001 or 2003 SE and I highly doubt either owner has had it done yet. Both cars are at about 125kms.

K

[Peyman]

get yourself a beer... you deserve it

[GMFWDFAN]

I pray to God that the LIM on my car was taken care of before I got it. I bought it with 103k miles and it's at 113k now. No signs of any trouble at all yet...

[Rivkid]

Most of the '01+ have the redesigned intake gasket and shouldn't have any problems. The 99-00 usually needed changed ~50-70K.
We used to sell every 3400(and 3100) that we got our hands on when I worked at the salvage yard.
Chances are, with a higher mileage car, the work has already been done. I did mine at 58K in about 6.5 hours. PITA.

[Bouchie11982]

i got mine done at 35k or so

[Ralph]

Most of the '01+ have the redesigned intake gasket and shouldn't have any problems. The 99-00 usually needed changed ~50-70K.
We used to sell every 3400(and 3100) that we got our hands on when I worked at the salvage yard.
Chances are, with a higher mileage car, the work has already been done. I did mine at 58K in about 6.5 hours. PITA.

I thought it was 03+

[Blackhawk]

It's 03, you can tell by the stamping on the LIM.

[poncho 1]

can you use the redesigned intake gasket off a 01+ or 03+ on a 99?

[stewartfn20]

can you use the redesigned intake gasket off a 01+ or 03+ on a 99?

I wouldnt see why not. I dont think anything changed with the design of the LIM.

[Bouchie11982]

something tells me they redesigned a little bit. i only remeber this when i was buying my upper intake....double check in the engine threads.

[poncho 1]

i should be ok i used the newer fel pro kit for the 99 but i was wondering
thanks anyway:)

[GAJ83]

I was reading a funky thing that GM is/was getting sued for installing a certain type of gasket material that basically got eaten by the Dexcool junk you're supposed to use. Wonder if the LIM's on 99-00 was what it was referring to.

[Blackhawk]

I think that class action has been going for a while, don't count on them paying much if anything.

[RazorDX]

can you use the redesigned intake gasket off a 01+ or 03+ on a 99?

Yes. I wouldn't use one "off" of another vehicle, but the new gaskets can be used on older 60*V6 engines.

[jackpot]

yea iv had mine for almost 40k km now, just over 160k km and I havent had any issue with my LIM, knock on wood

hearing about it being fixed in 03+ was a great relief when I read that, hopefully its true and mine holds up without incident, one reason I got the warranty was because of the LIM problems I had read, not knowing when I bought the warranty that my year was prob fixed, o well, hope to get my worth out of the warranty in other ways though

peace
JP

[angrysk8r]

I could be wrong...but don't the 2004 and up 3400's have a redesigned LIM that isn't supposed to leak like the other 3400's?

[stewartfn20]

I could be wrong...but don't the 2004 and up 3400's have a redesigned LIM that isn't supposed to leak like the other 3400's?

i think it was 03 and up, but i could be wrong too. im not sure.

[Big Joe]

can you use the redesigned intake gasket off a 01+ or 03+ on a 99?

Yes, use the redesigned gaskets or you'll be replacing yours again down the road.

[torskdoc]

Just did our 2000 today for the 1st time(for me....3rd set on the car). Only 58000 Miles on the meter. However the 1st 2 sets were done under warranty in 2000 and 2003. Apparently the outer bolts have a tendency to work loose as mine were finger tight! That or the "Parts Changers" @ pontiac dealer don't know how to use open/box wrenches to tighten down the "hidden bolts".

GET THE FELPRO COMPLETE SET, whatever you do. There is a NOTICIBLE Difference in construction between the Felpro's and the GM's. And use PLENTY of RTV in the end joints of the LIM and the LIM/HEAD/Valve Cover.


And I thought a Vega motor was a PITA!!!

Larry

[stewartfn20]

yea i found out yesterday that i didnt put enough rtv in between the LIM and the block and its leaking again (as i let my head fall) soooo im gonna have to have it done. Im sure as hell not gonna do it myself again.

[fragile]

I just had the 2nd one the other day.
This time it has the Fle-Pro gaskets and a new water pump.
good luck....

[ssvejiita]

******

[stewartfn20]

yea those areas that are circled. should i be conservative with the rtv or should i use a lot. im doin it my self again and dont want to do it a third time for the same crap.
I have most of the parts. So far the felpro gasket set, mobil 1 oil, acdelco oil filter, and gatorback belt. I just need the coolant. Should i use the green stuff or dexcool.

[Jchiasson]

Use the Dexcool.
I just did my head gaskets and LIMs and I used a generous amount of RTV there. I would say the bead I put on was darn near the width of that area, which means it was probably the same distance above that surface to. Haven't had a leak since. That being said, by the time you get the rest back together the rtv will have setup and and any "squeezage" would be securely attached to the rest of the rtv.
I mean the torque applied to the LIM bolts isn't that great anyways so it's not like your squeezing it to the point the excess will get pinched off and fall into the engine.

[stewartfn20]

ok thats what i was worried about. i didnt want anything falling in the motor. thanks for the input.

[Grims01GT]

Clean it VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY GOOD!!!!!

[PsuGooseSE2k]

Or the car could have had it replaced at 65,000, then you could buy the car at 68,000, and need another one at 93,000 >=-(

[lester107]

just finished doing it on my 00 today. Took me and my dad 6 hours to get everything done. This is the second one my cars used and it only has 86,000 on it.

[Meathead]

When does the LIM need replacing? I am looking at a 2001 or 2003 SE and I highly doubt either owner has had it done yet. Both cars are at about 125kms.

K

If they have the 4cyl don't worry about it. They only have one IM.

[p35bhp55]

Fel Pro makes a problem solving gasket for the 3400, I got mine at O'Reilly's. It's metal with molded rubber fittings. But had to buy the head gasket set anyway to get the valve seals and stuff. Mine leaked outside for 160,000k then blew out and dumped coolant in the engine. We did the whole top of the motor and the water pump and T stat. I bought a G5 GT to replace it, but just couldn't let ol' whitey die. Hope I don't get a kick in the pants for my loyalty.