I have a 3.1L v6 1992 Pontiac Firebird and has done a little over 100,000 miles, Iv had the car for three years and have had various parts replaced and repaired but a few months back the car started to sound a little rough, like it was running on less cylinders than it has, so took it to a garage and they stated it was:

"blowing at the manifold"
"blowing at EGR"
"stud snapped at manifold"

I was told it required a new cylinder head, so as I didnt have the money at the time to get it repaired, I took it off the road, I have recently brought it back onto the road and have had a decent mechanic look at it, he states it can be repaired without great cost.

What I am trying to ask is, if it is blowing at the manifold, will it cause the car to sound so rough and as it were running on less cylinders? Also, will it cause the engine any further problems if I drive it in this condition?

Cheers in advance

 

Not sure what they mean "blowing"?

Which "manifold"? Intake or exhaust?

Do they mean "leaking"?

If so, new gaskets might help; and of course, removing and replacing the broken stud.

As far as running rough, have you tried new spark plugs and a distributor cap & rotor, and a fuel filter?

 

No idea if they meant "leaking" as they only stated "Blowing" to me

I presume its the manifold at the exhaust.

I have changed the HT leads, distributor cap and rotor arm, have not changed spark plugs yet but all those items were replaced about 12 months ago anyway.

The thing that bothers me is the sound, it sounds rough and kind of chugs along

 

Oh, shoot. It's England.
I ran into the terminology thing when I had an Austin Healey. I had a big shop manual for it and it was in english, but I had a hard time understanding it. I think they mean it's like the sound you make when you say the letter "P" loudly. "Blowing". (Remember they can't say "poofing" because that means something vulgar) This in reference to multiple exhaust leaks would make sense.
I knew "bonnet" and "spanner" but,
other terminology I remember giving me problems:
"Crashing back in the exhaust" = (let of the gas, backfire)
"Fierceness or ******" = (clutch grabbing)
"exploded a packing" = (blown a gasket)
What we need here is an English to American translator...
(we only think we speak english, ...until we go to England)
EDIT: oh, I forgot diagnosis: exhaust manifold bolt broken off in head and EGR leaking exhaust, probably due to a stopped up cat.