New addition to the family

SnakeEyeSS · October 19, 2003

We have been looking to replace the 92 Olds 88(black, camaro exhaust, illegal tint)

My dad loves the new Impala style, and one was just traded at a local chevy dealership, we caught it the first day they advertised it in the paper. It was traded in by some business man who drove interstate (OK and TX) and so its all (high) highway miles, he traded it for a new Implala so that leads me to believe he was staisfied with the car if he's buying another one.

Its a 2001, 3.4L, Sand drift metallic, perfect interior(97% of 100, no signs of wear, just a small mark on door plasitc, like a inch long pen mark at the bottom), the paint and body is in great shape, with some highway style bumper paint chips. Starts quick and runs smooth, suspenion/handling is solid.

Tomorrow I will start on a basically extented tune-up, making sure everything is fresh for its new home.

the only thing that we are concerned about is during or at home inspection, we noticed a small coolant leak, our neighbor is a mechanc(well was at one time, still knows as much as most current mechanics) and said he thinks it's the intake gasket.

Do any of you know of a est. of how much it would cost to replae those? Mostly an independent job, we know a good inpedentent shop.

We got a great deal, so we were aren't flustered by spending some money on it off the bat.

Future: I've already got the idea in my dad's minds to bolt on some new 17" Impala SS wheels(the 2004 style), if anyone know of some for sale or is selling them , drop me a PM or e-mail!

CMNTMXR81 · October 19, 2003

Nice! We have a Sandrift Metallic 2003 Monte Carlo SS. I liked them when they first came out and everyone was screaming about the Impala name being put on a fwd car. The subframe/engine cradle is a pretty trick aluminum piece that weighs maybe 25lbs at most and cleans up easy when you change the oil and some gets on it. Just spray some brakekleen and you're good to go.

As to the intake gasket this is a problem common on 3.1's not necessarily 3.4's, these are two piece plenums and aren't all that difficult to replace. You'll obiously have to remove the upper portion, then it's your option to leave the fuel rail and injectors on the lower plenum or remove the lower plenum after removing it.

It'll probably take the better part of a Saturday.

SnakeEyeSS · October 19, 2003

You [guys] think it would be better to replace the plugs with Bosch Platniums, or stick with the stock AC Delco Irudiums? Looking for plug performance, not necessarily longlivity(sp)

kgornek · October 19, 2003

I own a 2002 Impala (3.8L) and I recently got a recall notice to replace the intake gasket because their known to leak. You may want to look into this further before paying for it out of your pocket. I didn't have any problems with mine, but took it in anyway to prevent any future problems or issues.

k1500chevy97 · October 20, 2003

CMNTMXR81 · October 20, 2003

You [guys] think it would be better to replace the plugs with Bosch Platniums, or stick with the stock AC Delco Irudiums? Looking for plug performance, not necessarily longlivity(sp)

DO NOT use any plug other than standard AC replacements. The D.I.S. systems on these (as well as most GM V6 engines in FWD appilcations with D.I.S.) are very particular to the amount of resistance in each circuit. A aftermarket platinum plug may not offer enough or too much. In the case of not enough, the system over powers it, frying the wire in the process and possibly one of the modular coils. Too much resistance, and it'll back off some of the power.

I've seen more than enough of these engines where people modify them with a different plug and this is the result.

SnakeEyeSS · October 20, 2003

Well, today we changed/replaced:

Plugs

Air Filter

Oil/Oil filter

Fuel filter

Did an engine flush

and well be adding Redline SI-1 to the next tank of gas.

Can anyone tell me what the 100K trans service call for? The pan is easy, so I can do a filter change myself. Do we need to flush too? Or just flush? These "lifetime" units are ridiclulas(GM says lifetime, but recommends service at 100K). MAnufacter's have tried this before and its a bunch of bull. A regular BG flush around here runs $75+- at a fast lube for the average vehicle.

I was thinking if it needs a filter AND flush, I'll do filter myself, fill it up with some ATF, run it a 6 blocks down the street and have the fast lube flush, or in the reverse order.

CMNTMXR81 · October 20, 2003

They said your plugs were meant to last 100k also and you changed them.

I don't care what they say for maintanence intervals, I would replace trans fluid and filters somewhere within a 30,000 - 50,000 mile window depending on service load. Seeing as though this is a highway car, I wouldn't fret too much and you could probably go up to 50k with ease.

As to flushing or not, that's your decision. You don't NEED to though. A regular filter and fluid change is more than sufficient. Remember, these new power flushing machines and this mainstream process are relatively new, so somehow we survived prior to them.

I can't remember which trans is behind that 3.4, but it's either a 4T40E or 4T60E. I wouldn't do your last method because the 4T40E takes like 14 quarts of ATF even with just a filter/fluid change. A complete flushing is like 17 quarts.

The 4T60E is a bit less, but still 8-9 quarts to fill it up with filter/fluid change.

Not very cost effective if you want to flush it your last way.

SnakeEyeSS · October 20, 2003

seesh, looks like I'll be picking up some ATF and filter/gasket set this week. My dad will be happy, it'll save us a little money. My parents might take it on a short trip this weekend, so I want everything to be fresh before it sees use. doubt this will take me too long, I'll calll the dealer to fund out how many quarts I'll need.

I guess I should check the users manual though.........

CMNTMXR81 · October 20, 2003

I don't think the owners manual has it in there as they don't expect owners to ever change it. For which trans you have, just get under the car and look at it. "4T40E" or "4T60E" and "Hydramatic" are stamped into the pan.

It won't take long, the messy part is at first when starting to drain it. Both transmissions have very shallow pans so expect a deluge.

Figure around 20-25 ft-lbs to properly torque the bolts back up and you don't "need" to buy a new gasket. These newer ones have a metal spined rubber unit that is reusable if need be.

SnakeEyeSS · October 26, 2003

Okay, new intake gasket is on. Our mechanic said every one of the Impalas those years needed one sooner or later, ours at the most miles he'd seen on the gasket without out it completely going.

Now the Trunk release sticks, It buzzes, and I took it off the lock and hit the button and everything moves right. When on the lock and truck is open everything works right, but when the truck is closed, it dosen't pull the lever enough to open the trunk. I've sprayed WD-40 all over it, and that did nothing. If no one knows how to fix it is the electric release part called the silonoid?

SnakeEyeSS · October 26, 2003

oh and CMNT, it had M6 stamped on the pan, and the users manual told me 7.4 Quarts. We put in Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic. The filter I bought had 40T60-E and 4T65-E on it, I'm betting it was the 4T65-E, an dthe changed went smooth, only problem was getting the filter o-ring thing off, that was a pain.