I have a 97 Z, and I changed the intake and water pump the other day. Car wouldnt start after that, so I also changed the opti. Now the car runs like serious crap. When we first got the car together, it ran rough and misfired. Then without warning, it smoothed out. Then an oil leak. I cant pin point it, but it seems to be coming from right above the oil filter... and its no little drip. The car seems to not like coolant either. The system was bled several times, and when I would take the car for a short spin it would still have air in the system. So I finally drove the car home. Not even 3 miles down the road and the temp gauge shot to 260. Pulled over and coolant was pissing out of the right front nose. It also appears that the resivoir tank cap had popped off and thats where the coolant was coming out. Right now the cazr is sitting at my apartment and will not idle. It almost sounds like a bad opti, but I know the opti is still good. I was thinking head gasket... but wanted your guys opinions. Thanks.

 

You said you changed the intake? Did you cange to an LT4 or a ported LT1 or did you mean you just changed the gasket? If so why, if you did not use the right gasket or get it put on right you could have vacume leak (rough idle), oil leaks (usually in back) and coolant leaks (into the lifter valley or into an intake port and out the exaust) All of the problems you mentioned could be associated with a intake gasket/seal problem.

 

It sounds like you have a huge vacuum leak on the intake manifold, or something improperly connected. The oil leak is also probably the result of the manifold incorrectly installed. The LT-1 intake is "dry" meaning that it does not carry coolant in it.
The spike in the temperature certainly didn't do the head gaskets any good, but time will tell if you popped one.
Bleeding the system is important, and once you figure it out, quite simple. Be sure to get all the air out this time, with the car level, both bleeders open, engine off. Fire it up for a minute or two, and bleed again. That should be it.

 

After I discovered the oil leak, I felt around on the back of the intake, and it was bone dry. Also, the SES light cam on on the way home. Im positive that it will be a multiple engine misfire.

 

Can anyone help me????