Horizonjet

HI! I am new to this, just picked up a 98 firebird for almost nothing. It has a v-6 and manual trans. but here is the problem. As soon as the engine heats up it will overheat and you can hear a hissing noise at intake area. Does this mean it needs new intake gaskets? I hope it aint head gaskets. I know it aint the water pumpbecause that is new. No water in oil and no coolant going out the exhaust. Just looking for opinions

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

well there are a few things it could be in terms of a coolant leak, yes it is very common place for the intake gaskets to be a source but it is also possible to have a leak in the plastic 90* elbows that go between the block and belt tensioner (that routes the coolant to the heater core lines, there is also the lines to the heater core themselves (or their connection to the belt tensioner).

Horizonjet

Those have been replaced with new metal ones and new heater hoses. I see coolant on top of the intake. Is there an upper engine gasket kit that comes with the everything I would need for this job?

Horizonjet

Oh and does that mean the intake is bad and needs a new intake?

No_Quarter

More than likely, your intake should be fine. Upper intake GM p/n is a 24504789, and lower is a 89017819. Those elbows go quite frequently, but since I've been in the dealer world, we've never had an issue after we've replaced them. Let me know how the metal ones hold up, I've never heard one way or the other.