Finally getting around to the head gaskets. Here are a few pictures of the UIM and LIM removal. Hopefully tomorrow, we will be able to get the heads off and run them over to be checked out. Going to go ahead and have the valves done and put in new lifters while we have it down. This is the engine we bought back in the summer and have had issues with coolant lose. My first time replacing head gaskets, so fingers crossed and hoping everything goes smooth. Not sure I am going to put the rear engine lift bracket back on, that was a PITA to get to.

First pic is with coil packs, fuel rail and harness removed.
2. Looking at bottom side of UIM
3. Top of the LIM
4. My son getting to the stuff a short person can't reach!
5. UIM and LIM removed.

 

hey my dad use to make me remove all the stuff he didnt want to either.... eh its good for us i guess

 

Got the heads off today. Clearly visible that the head gasket was needing replaced. Black crispy gasket and black marks on the gasket leading from the water jacket to the cylinder.

 

Thats what we like to see

 

I just removed the UIM and LIM from my 96 camaro last night. I had the same residue as you do in the forward most port. That plastic elbow going into the front of the LIM was a PITA to get off. I ended up accidentally breaking it. How many miles do you have on your car?

 

The car has 158K on it. The motor, I don't know. I bought it out of a fire damaged firebird and the dash had melted so I could not see the miles. I paid $300 for the motor and we put 4k on the motor since we installed it. It started losing water and at first we thought it was a bad radiator. Turned out the cooling system was being pressurized by the blown head gasket blowing out the coolant around the rad cap and overflow tank.

As far as the plastic elbow, I left it connected until I had the LIM unbolted and then lifted it up and pushed toward the firewall. The plastic elbow slide out without much trouble.

 

Thats exactly what mine was doing. It would overpressurize and blow the little small rubber piece below the radiator cap. Mine has 191K on it when I pulled it out. It still ran strong though. For the plastic elbow I did the same thing you did, but I did it with the engine out and it still broke.

 

Don't forget to replace it, You really do not want resuse the OEM elbow.

 

Here are a couple pics of the head gasket. Not what I was expecting. I was picturing part of the head gasket being totally gone but you can see where the water was running from the water jacket into the cylinders. This is a pic of the same head gasket from both sides. Hopefully tomorrow I will get the heads to the shop. Been trying all week but work has been keeping me on the road. PIcs are not that good, taken by blackberry. Thanks for the heads up Gorn, making my list out so I don't forget anything. Need to find out the size of the thread chaser to clean the block head bolt holes too before I go.

 

Man I sure wish this engine was out. They sure are alot easier to work not in the car. I have one camaro up on stands with the engine and frontend out from under it and then this happened. Not much room under that hood!