My 95 z28 has had an oil leak at the rear of the intake manifold since about 30,000 miles. I recently had a new clutch and flywheel installed and the shop told me that this oil leak could pose a serious problem if the oil was to get on the clutch, destroying it. I have heard that Lt1s are notorious for oil leaks at the rear of the intake manifold. Im wondering how serious this problem is? How much in labor am i lookin at to get a new gasket installed? Thanks!!

 

it's not as hard as it would seem. i have limited skills and i changed it in a days time. just take your time and label everthing. i don't know how much it would cost for a shop to do it. save the money and get a friend or two to help. good luck with it.

 

I inquired at a dealership and they said it would be about $550 to fix the intake oil leak, I'd do it myself ...

 

Check how to fix it in this excellent link Mr. Ken Collings' courtesy

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/4013/ol.html

I used Permatex cupper silicon (Autozone has it) instead the corch gasket...6 years ago..no oil leak since...

Regards
Dochidalgo

 

I actually dremeled a groove in the block and another groove in the intake manifold, and that stopped the leak for good.

 

Is it really a problem with getting oil on the clutch?

 

Make sure you clean both surfaces with a brush and apply extra at the corners, especially at the area were the EGR tube goes in.

 

I feel your pain. If you have any doubt whatsoever about the source of your leak, I would suggest doing the fluorescent dye trick to make sure. I thought I had fixed all potential leaks that could have taken out my original clutch. It turns out it was actually a leak from the input shaft seal of the six speed transmission (which I did not fix when I had the tranny out the first time). I finally got smart and did the dye trick to figure it out for sure. The bonus is I was much faster taking the tranny out the second time.

Good luck.

 

Yup, ive heard of it happening numerous times. The oil will leak down into the bellhousing, and get on the clutch disc and flywheel.

 

I just did this repair a few months ago. It does seem daunting at first, especially if you have not done something of this caliber before but it does help to be somewhat mechnically inclined. It is doable and you can save $.
My local Rydell wanted ~$500 to do the job as well. I bought a nice tool set for just over $100, and spend all in all about $150 doing the job.
Take a digital camera and take pics before you start.
Go slowly and it will take you a nice 5 hours to complete it. if you some advice as you go, Ill be happy to help as best I can.
Just clean the surfaces real good, dont let debris go into the runner or lifter valley and use good silicone.

 

Just dont let the job overwhelm you there are plenty of pictures and diagrams to help you out.

really theres one thing to look at also, are you planning on keeping or removing emmisions?

this would be the perfect time to do it if you were wanting to remove them.

just take your time, on your radiator shroud theres a picture showing where what vacumn hoses go to on the intake etc.

 

Easy easy job. Gaskets are $30ish. Some rtv is $5. Even if you need some cheap tools that shouldn't be much more.

 

Thank you all for the great info. I think im conviced i will try to tackle this fix myslef. I havent done a job of this caliber before, so its a little intimidating; but dont have the cash to pay a shop. Ill post any questions/problems that arise. Thanks again!!

 

Watch your vacuum lines. There's a branch deal that's out of sight on the driver's side at the back of the motor. A section fell down to the bell housing. Had I not accidentally touched it I wouldn't have noticed the separation. I'm thinking it was connected to the fuel pressure regulator. The car probably would have started but would have run poorly. If I had driven it, the section could have been lost on the road.

 

Super easy job if you don't let it get to ya.

I've pulled so many intake manifolds on and off at this point I can have the intake off in less than 30 minutes...