I've been told that is simply a matter of when, not if that my intake manifold will give out. Seems to be a common problem on the series 2, and I believe the series 3 is the same design (plastic gasket) Does anyone know of an aftermarket piece that fixes this issue? Or what anyone has done to resolve/repair this issue in their own car?

I have a 2005 GTP with 60,000 on it, and would love to resolve this before it ever happens. Thanks for any help!

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2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

You can get the gaskets from ZZP or your local GM dealer.

After further research, no aftermarket gaskets are possible due to torque specs.

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

Change out the coolant you run in your motor and it will considerably extend the life of your gaskets.

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2009.5 SBM G8 GT
November 2011 Car of the Month

These aluminum intake gaskets are for Series 2 and 3 3800 engines: Intake Gaskets

Fel Pro makes a similar product in their PermaDry Plus series: MS98014T Hope that helps!

The ones at ZZP say this is an OEM GM product. Doesn't that mean its the same one that come stock on the car?

-- Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:57 pm --

The gasket at ZZP says it is an OEM GM product. Doesn't that mean it is that original equipment that came on the car?

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

The ones ZZP sells are the aluminum OEM ones not the plastic OEM ones, and from what I've heard, those aluminum ones are really beefy and way better than the plastic ones and the set I got from ZZP and just installed were way better than stock. I thought that the series 3 came with aluminum gaskets from the factory though?

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Your best bet would be to look at your engine where the intake manifold meets the cylinder heads, and see what color the intake gasket edges are.

I'm spraying mine with coper spray.. maybe this will help the gasket failure and maybe a little gasket marker on the outside just to keep the engine bay looking good just in case.

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Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

You may be right. According to this website 04+ come with the aluminum gaskets from the factory

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

I did some more searching into this topic and it seems that the 04's did still get the plastic ones, or at least it looks like my 04 GT did (hard to tell now with all the grease and oil on the engine) but it was an early 04 so it might be one of those odd ball things, but in 05-08 all the GP's came with the aluminum ones. Hope that helps you out some.

_________________

Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

i have an 05 gp and i just did my intake gaskets about a week ago. the original ones that came out were not aluminum. but the ones i got from the parts store were. i beleive they stopped making the non aluminum ones due to the problem they were havin and now only sell the higher quality aluminum ones. also the 2 elbows that go into the belt tensioner are well known for going bad. hence the reason i did my intake gaskets at the same time.

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2005 grand prix GT, lowered 2 inches, 3" straight pipe exhaust, 3" downpipe, 5% tinted windows... its just the beggining...

The Future Ain't What It Used To Be...

You have a source? I'm more confused about this topic now more than ever.

I suppose I should look at where my LIM meets the cylinder head. If its black i assume its plastic, and if its silver its aluminum I guess?

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

That's correct...when I bought my '98 in 2004, I had to replace the engine bearings due to failed LIM gaskets. At that time, the gaskets were only available from the GM dealer. When I asked them about getting aluminum gaskets, they told me I was lucky to be getting plastic ones. I replied that maybe when GM replaced enough engine bearings under warranty, they'll step up and offer aluminum gaskets. Tried to get them again in 2005 for my '95 Park Avenue, no such luck. Then in August '06 a guy on GP.Net told me they were available as GM part # 89017816. I managed to find a GM dealer with one set in stock, and the parts guy was amazed that I knew about them...

I did a google search for "3800 Series engine Aluminum Gaskets" and just went clicking away. One of the main sites I found was AutomotiveForums.com which said that the redesign (aluminum) ones started to appear in 2005 and that you could get them from the dealerships in 2006, and the pontiac Bonneville Forums which said "..., the plastic-frame LIM gasket design was used in both supercharged and normally aspirated engines at least from 92 to 05." http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/ ... =53&t=1061

I know on my dad's 07 it has aluminum gaskets, but I'm still pretty sure mine and maybe Malefic_GP (who has an 04 GT) has plastic (the 04 GT's also have different connecting rods then the GTP's), but I'm not positive since he hasn't posted enoung pics in his build thread!!!!!!! but Dthreap's 04 Comp G did have plastic ones (yeah Derek I facebook creeped). At least the 04 isn't as strange as the 97's.

Either way, since you have an 05, you're in the clear.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Dam, I'm not going to take pictures of just about everything ;P. You guys want pictures if how I drained the dexcool too? Lmao. I've been having engine problems.. Lumpy idling.. I could gave killed a lifter or something cuz I didn't torque the rocker arms right the first time. :S

Well if I can remember correctly, I did gave the plastic crap too, but I'd have dig in the trash if u want a pic!

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Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

Pics or it didn't happen!!!!!
I'll skip the picture of draining the dexcool, but a pic of adding coolant not colored orange would be great.
What are the gains supposed to be with those heads and the 1.95's? And the service manual was back up so you have no excuse for torque specs. I'm curious to see how all that work turns out though.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Well I did get a couple of runs with the set up before it started craping on me.. It was just neck snapping fun! I'm definitely hit 200whp+. I just ordered some comp lifters so let's see if this solves my problems

_________________

Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

Mine was an early 04 GTP, and it came with an Alum. gasket. (I know this, I changed it out) Unless it was changed prior to it failing..

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I'm trying to locate a visual on my LIM gasket. Am I looking in the right spot? I kind of cleaned off the part I think it is. Kinda of orange after I scraped of the crud. See pictures below. Thanks for any help!

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.

Those are just the end seals...in this thread you can see pics of the plastic LIM gaskets getting replaced with the aluminum ones: 97-03-grand-prix-discussion-f13/my-gtp-past-present-and-future-pic-heavy-t10395.html

The best place to look is along the top edge of the front valve cover, hope that helps!

Dear god don't spray them with copper spray! These gaskets use Viton rubber to seal. That it more than adequate. The problem was poor gasket design, not dex-cool "eating" gaskets. When dex-cool is exposed to air it sludges up. So when the poorly designed plastic intake gaskets crack, the coolant sludges and/or leaks in or out of the engine.

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Mods include-
Pulley boys 3.2 pulley, 20* timing, HPTuned, pacesetters, SSIC, modded 1.9's, F/R STBs on Don Rome brackets, 255lph pump, ZZP billet rails, GXP catback
Best of 13.4 at 103.... 12's this year

You have to use something on the left and right orange rubber gaskets. ZZP recommends it even, that you put some type of rtv or the like on it.. And the factory paper gasket.. not plastic.. gets eaten up by something, as mine was eaten down to the alum. core, and the only thing that touches it.. is dex.

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The factory gasket is plastic with viton rubber lining. If you had a paper gasket, it was replaced by someone with a cheap parts house gasket and I'm not surprised that it deteriorated. You are correct, you need a dab of RTV on the corners where the gaskets meet with the rubber end pieces. That's not what the previous poster was talking about though, he was talking about spraying his gaskets with copper spray.

_________________
Mods include-
Pulley boys 3.2 pulley, 20* timing, HPTuned, pacesetters, SSIC, modded 1.9's, F/R STBs on Don Rome brackets, 255lph pump, ZZP billet rails, GXP catback
Best of 13.4 at 103.... 12's this year

For the record my 2005 GTP does after all have plastic gaskets.

So what will I need for complete replacement?

Aluminum OEM Gasket
Some RTV. Silcone? Brand or specific type?
Lower Intake O-rings???

_________________
2005 GTP
Planned Mods:
1) Wizair CAI
2) TOG Headers
3) 3-inch DP
4) 3.6 SC Pully
4a) Pro Dyno Tune
In that order. 4 & 4a done the same day.