I have an 88 GTA with a 5-speed that started leaking coolant awhile back and I finally got around to fixing it. Anyway, I think I know what the problem is. It seems that the bolts that hold that intake to the block got kinda loose somehow and allowed coolant to run out. Does this make sense? Does it happen often? Also, the bolts on the front of the intake are very tight, in the middle they seem really loose, and in the back they only seem kinda tight. Is this a symptom of a warped head/block? This is the first time I've ever done any major work on this car myself so things are still kinda foreign to me so thanks for any help.

 

Clean out the threads that the bolts screw into thoroughly. Before you put the bolts in coat them with thread sealant- often oil (not usually coolant, though) will work its way up the threads of the bolt if they are not coated. Use a torque wrench to tighten all the bolts. Retorque after a few days and then again after a few weeks.


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94 Firebird Formula M6- No options but Z rated tires. No mods over $10. 13.5@105.
79 Malibu "beater" w/junkyard 400 SBC, tweaked QJet 4bbl, finally a decent set of heads, a few other tricks. A maddening 13.000001 @ 108 on the motor with little traction. No nitrous runs with the new heads yet.
Grandma's old 78 Malibu (33K miles!) soon to have the powertrain from the 79 put in it.

"One of the last remaining QJet tuners on Planet Earth!"

 

you are following the proper torqing sequence aren't you? If not this could cause the manifold to warp and not seat properly. Also make sure you put plenty of sealant on the front and back of the manifold (usually cause oil to leak and not antifreeze though) and don't use old intake gaskets. They make a special tube of sealant to put on the intake manifold bolts so you may want to pick some up. The intake manifold bolts should only be torqued to around 25 ft-lbs if I remember right and should be torqued in 5 lb increments after the intial setting of 10 ft-lbs. This is for an aluminum manifold which you should have if you have the TPI still. Look in the Chilton or haynes Manual for the torque specs and for the proper sequence.

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1988 TA 300+hp 350 w/ TBI and Holley TB unit, Holley projection intake,
WC T-5, 3.42 gears w/ Auburn posi. MSD 6A, edelbrock TES headers, dynomax 3" cat and cat-back system, ACCEL coil, polyurethane bushings all around, aluminum driveshaft, Mr. Gasket open air cleaner.

1993 S-10 w/ 4.3L V6 TBI, slightly bigger cam, Mild polish job and 3 angle valve job on heads, Edlebrock TES headers, Dynomax cat back, MSD 6A, ADS chip

2000 Kawasaki KX 125