If you own a GM product with a 2.8, 3.1, 3.8..chances are your car uses antifreeze. Most common problem is the lower intake gasket. (the shiny thing in the picture) Gaskets are of poor design and almost every one starts leaking coolant into the crankcase and seeping outside as well. My Olds was using about a quart of coolant per week. GM in their infinate wisdom decided to intertwine the gasket with the pushrods (as seen here) and turns a shitty job into a downright PITA. 8 hours to be exact. Because you have to take the pushrods out, the rocker arms have to come off. Now so do the valve covers. But you cant get them off without taking the coil packs off .And you cant get those off, without taking the alternator an P/S pump off, and so on and so on. Back together now, and doesnt appear to be leaking, but now I have a "check engine light". Car seems to be running fine however.

So why did I bother you ask....

My cost..@ $100.00 for gasket kit, coolant, and I replaced the plugs while I was in there.

Cheapest I could get anyone to do the same job was @ $650.00 and that didnt include the plugs.

Moral is..GM SUCKS AGAIN. Furthermore this is not a job I would recommend doing if you dont have any patience!

I do them all day long ....takes me 1 and 1/2 hrs to doem....
Did i tell you master gm tech......
Erik

I see a honda or toyota in your future!

Not doubting you, but 1.5 hours!!! Pretty fucking unbelievable.

Just did one today....Stated @ 3:40b pm done and engine running @ 5:05 pm....it is a bit difficult though if you dont do it everyday...you did a good job....
Erik

The fact that he does them often and is so good at doing it will tell you how shitty of a design it is..

It was a design problem that was remedied in post 2003 engines. I stock +500 sets of FelPro improved-design intake gasket sets, that do remedy the problem in these engines, in my warehouses.
You can probably expect to replace your fuel pump module in the near future, too. All of these design flaws are pretty much remedied in more current GM models.

ALL THE CAR MAKES HAVE FUCKING FLAWS!!!!! We are only human and we all make mistakes....
Erik