Hey everyone!

I REALLY know this is for Fiero related...but I am a Fiero guy that happens to be working on a Camaro. Please forgive me and I'll ask this to go to off topic if needed. But there is a reason why I'm asking the Fiero guys instead of anyone else. I've been here for some time and appreciate the level of help given by folks on this board.

I'm doing intake manifold gaskets on a 92 3.1. The manual says to cut the gasket in order to fit it around the push rods. The gaskets say "do not cut". What will happen if I cut the gaskets? The engine runs very well and really doesn't need any type of valve lash adjustment. I'll do it if necessary but wanted to get some opinions first.

Thanks- Matt

quote Originally posted by FieroOilAnalyst: ....What will happen if I cut the gaskets? .....

they may not line up right. when you put the manifold on, and start torquing, the pressure on the gasket is mostly downwards, and this may push the gasket downward.
I do see why you dont want to lash the valves, it is a PITA.
it mostly a judgement call - it could work out just fine. I'm sure people have done it, and it came out fine.
I will say dont cut them, and lash the valves. its another hour added to the job. well worth knowing you dont have to do the job again.

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: I will say dont cut them, and lash the valves. its another hour added to the job. well worth knowing you dont have to do the job again.

Now we know why I posed this question to the Fiero folks. Great way of putting it and thanks for the opinion. Now I'll go back to the garage and do it right.

DO NOT CUT THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lost a 2500 (that's hundred, not thousand) mile motor when one of those failed at the DO NOT CUT area. The gasket slid over enough to expose the coolant passage and dumped all of the coolant into the oil pan. Trashed the whole bottom end. Was not fun at all.

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1986 SE 350 V8

Never cut the intake gaskets. You have to remove the pushrods to properly install the gasket. Not doing so will likely result in a rapid and catastrophic failure of the motor.

JazzMan

don;t cut them.
use a breaker bar on the socket to remove the rocker arm nuts, count the turns you back off until the push rod is removable.
remove it, slip it thru the gasket , replace it, and tighten the same number of turns you loosened. do it one at a time, or make a chart, either way works, just do it even number of turns. no adjustment necessary when done, if none was needed before.

[This message has been edited by tjm4fun (edited 05-10-2006).]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. After the first post I went down to the garage and did the job the correct way. I just loosened all the rocker nuts, put the gasket on correctly, installed the distributor and did a valve lash adjustment per the book.

Again, thanks so much for the feedback. Fiero folks rock!!

Matt