Help, I am about ready to get rid of it!

[bowmanm]

I bought an 87 convertible in July. When I bought it I knew that it needed tires and some interior cosmetics. I took care of that and had the transmission and radiator flushed. The car has 53,000 miles on it and is real sharp looking. Since I flushed the radiator I developed a coolant leak. I found that the water pump was leaking and since the car is 17 years old I decided to replace the radiator hoses, radiator and thermostat along with the water pump. After doing this I found a new leak coming from the u-shaped throttle body hose. I then replaced it. Today the weather was nice so I fired her up and ran her around town. When I got home I discovered a small puddle of antifreeze on top of the intake on the passenger side, just to the right of the front injector.At first I thought it may have been left over from changing the throttle body hose. I cleaned it up and started the car again to make sure. After it ran a little bit the puddle started forming again, slowly. Could this be from the intake? The throttle body hose is not leaking. I am thinking that I may need a new intake manifold gasket because on the drivers side there is a small amount of oil on top of the manifold around the injectors also and a small amount on the back side of the engine.

 

[JonM]

Go to Autozone...they have a Loan-a-tool program. Borrow this and pump it up.

 

[Mart]

bowmanm

I have an 86 with the same problem, It was dripping oil down the back of the motor, I thought it was a rear main seal.

I talked with a corvette shop over the phone and he said oh yeah, probably the intake, L98 prone to this.

Did it myself, not a big deal.

Mart

 

[kingman]

Relax!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Bowmanm

This is going to happen for a while until everything is replaced. Your problem is of course not mileage but years and where it was kept.

Don't make yourself crazy the 87 conv is a terrific machine and you will get years of pleasure from it after you replace everything.

I know it sounds crazy, but it was not built to last forever sitting in a garage. It was built to run and if your 87 had some more miles you might of had fewer problems.

My 96 had problems but l fixed them for under $1000. It seems to me that this entire forum is here to deal with problems.

Look at it this way, if you had no problems, what would you do with your free time?????


Alan

 

[warren s]

I thought i was doing the right thing by buying a 7 year old car with only 2000 miles put on per year, wrong.

When it sits alot it needs alot.

With only 53K on an 87, you have many years of use left in that car.

 

[bowmanm]

So, Do you guys think this problem in the intake manifold gasket? The antifreeze looks like it may be coming from around a bolt in the intake.

 

[3sacrwd]

Sounds like the intake manifold to me. I had mine replaced by the dealer soon after I bought my car 3 years ago. The Vette Mechanic pretty much diagnosed it over the phone. He did say that it was pretty common. Now, I would have replaced the gasket myself with the help of the people on this board. I have not had my car to the dealer since. Good luck.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

So, Do you guys think this problem in the intake manifold gasket? The antifreeze looks like it may be coming from around a bolt in the intake.

Sounds like the intake gasket to me.

I see you are in Illinois? where are you near? I am in Bartlett

 

[Mart]

Hmmm,

I think I heard that at the beginning of this post.

snicker,

Mart

 

[bowmanm]

Jeff I am down near St. Louis. A small town called Jerseyville.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Hmmm,

I think I heard that at the beginning of this post.

snicker,

Mart

I was just agreeing with everyone else

 

[bowmanm]

Kingman, I got over making myself crazy, it was just the emotion at the time. So far I have replaced the shocks, tires,valve guide seals,water pump, radiator hoses,radiator,thermostat tb hose and now I am going to do the intake manifold gasket. I hope after all this I will be able to drive it without checking for something else afterwards. I have replaced all this stuff within the last 5 months. Oh well I guess that is just part of the corvette experience. I know one thing when you get behind the wheel with the top down and punch the gas you forget about all the work that was done!

 

[bradfordsvettes]

this is all part of the fun of owning and driving an old american classic take it from me been there done that got that tee shirt steve

 

[corvetterider84]

I have to agree. Driving a vette on a nice day with top down, or in my case top off, really helps us forget about the money and work we put into it. Its almost like a whole new world.

 

[RedRagTop]

Guess I was lucky. 1 air pump, 1 tranny grommet, 2 MAF relays in near 2 years and 6K miles...
RJS

 

[C4CRAZY787]

Yes, little thing's always seem to pop up. Get'er fixed and you'll feel better.
BTW the best 90$ I spent on my car was for the GM manual @ www.helminc.com

 

[bowmanm]

The intake manifold gasket is replaced. She is running sweet! Life is good again{maybe}.

 

[RedRagTop]

Glad it all worked out. A few bucks here and there are worth that top-down feeling

 

[jpanek]

I know one thing when you get behind the wheel with the top down and punch the gas you forget about all the work that was done!

Amen, brother.