RW> The Dexcool in my Z28 was orange...hmmm, could be that it was more water
RW> than Dexcool.

I seem to remember my Monte Carlo's antifreeze was the red Dexcool when I
bought it brand new.  Later, it seemed to turn more orange and got the
notorious "goop" formations in it.  Looked like a brown sludge.  

RW> I've never had a problem with it and the Z28 has never given me anything
RW> to worry about in the cooling department. Early on, I replaced the 195
RW> degree thermostat with a 180 and that was the only thing I've done to it
RW> in the cooling department up until the coolant flush and change.

I'm curious to know why some people didn't have problems with Dexcool and
many others did.  There are so many factors, it is difficult to say.

RW> Chevys have been famous for that. The old cork type of gasket would
RW> shrink
RW> with age and the 4 screws would come loose, allowing oil to seep under
RW> the
RW> cover gasket. The rubber replacement gaskets were even worse, slipping
RW> out
RW> from under the cover when they got a dose of oil. I tend to stick with

I think my 80' Malibu has the cork value cover gasket.  It has a slow leak
for years, but not bad enough to make me have to replace it.

I did have to have one of the value cover gaskets replaced on my Monte
Carlo just recently.  I saw some oil leaking recently, took it back to
where I had the engine installed, and they replaced the gasket.  

They have been great with the warranty.  Both problems were minor - and
both were gasket related.

RW> My 55 Chevy had a 30-30 Duntov cam in it. Adjusting the valves (.03
RW> intake and .03 exhaust} with the engine running and the covers off
RW> allowed
RW> the oil to pump over the fenders. I found a set of rocker clips (still
RW> have them today) that covered the oil hole in the rocker which kept the
RW> oil in the engine, until it flooded the head and overflowed onto the
RW> exhaust. I learned to do only one bank at a time, shut it down, clean it
RW> up and re-install that cover before tackling the other bank of cyl.

I have never done anything like that, nor would be brave enough to work on
the open engine while it was running.

RW> That it will. Rather than service a PCV, I just replace them
RW> periodically.

Me too.  All that stuff in brand new in my Monte Carlo.  

- Mark

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