Anyone had the top end off a 4.3 V6?

[rlyons]

I have a 2003 Sonoma with the 4.3 V6, 110,000 miles. I'm getting a minor oil leak that appears to be coming from the rear corner of the driver side valve cover gasket, but it's also leaking down into the intake manifold valley area. I'm thinking if I have to do valve cover gaskets, I may as well do the intake manifold gasket while I'm in there.

Do I have to pull the distributor out of the block in order to get the intake manifold off? If so, is the distributor fixed with a dial pin so it'll go back in place and be correctly times, or do I need to re-time the distributor with a timing light?

Any guidance is much appreciated.

 

[threecar]

You really need to go on youtube and search how to change fuel pressure regulator, spider injector, intake plenum gasket. Any of these will show videos on how to do this. No you do not need to take the distributor off.

 

[happy 2011]

well unless they make a two pice intake (they don't) you WILL need to pull the distributor. It's not hard but rember this (important) unless you let t6he tk sit over night when you pull the distributor the oil pump rod is going to turn about 1 tooth. This mean the distributor will not go back the same way unless you turn back the rod with a screw driver. It's easy to turn back don't let that scare you.

Mark your rotor and distributor base and pull it reinstall to the marks and good to go.

 

[threecar]

OK I guess it is different for the TBI if that is what rlyons has. The CPI does not need to have distributor off according to research I have done.

Just in case this is a good vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv8n0ddcsZU

 

[ferretx9]

Go to the jimmy forum , there is thread about overheating by sara .
Molsen has a reply that may be of help ( links with pics / instructions )

 

[happy 2011]

three car to do the lower intake gasket on any 4.3 you must remove the distributor. What you talking about is the upper intake where the injectors are.

 

[shane.vattimo]

if there is no leak you dont need to change the intake gasket. general rule of thumb is if it ain't broke don't fix it, heck as long as your at the intake why not just do the heads, right? it will turn a simple 3 bolt job into a 30 bolt job and you don't wanna mess with the distributor if you don't have too.
have a nice one, hope 3 bolt job does the trick.

 

[happy 2011]

well i will say those intakes have a bad habit of leaking coolant out the left front corner. Or oil out the back

 

[shane.vattimo]

and duratech 3.0's have a tendency to burn up catalytic converters but i dont replace those when i do the valve covers.

 

[threecar]

three car to do the lower intake gasket on any 4.3 you must remove the distributor. What you talking about is the upper intake where the injectors are.

Yeah you are right Happy.....I misunderstood what question was. I should probably stop giving mechanical advice and leave it to the pro's.

 

[happy 2011]

never hurts to try to help.... no ones right all the time