27 Mar 12 20:47, Mark Hofmann wrote to Roy Witt:



 RW>> Everybody does that now days. Your wife's Dodge is proof of platinum
 RW>> plugs
 RW>> going the distance, even when they're 45k miles beyond what the
 RW>> factory recommends. It would be interesting to know what brand they
 RW>> used back in 2000.

 MH> I plan on finding out soon enough when I replace them.  I have been
 MH> unable to find out what spark plugs they use from the factory on the
 MH> 2001 Durango 4.7.

Something tells me that they'll be Bosch. German made.

 RW>> Since they haven't used gaskets (per se') for over a decade, what
 RW>> exactly was it that failed? i.e. Since 1997, LS engines use o-rings
 RW>> on a 'gasket' carrier look a like.

 MH> The "gasket" that is used on my lower intake is made out of rubber,
 MH> with a metal frame.

Yeup...as are the o'ring gaskets.

 MH> The real problem ended up not being the "gasket", but the heads and
 MH> lower intake themselves having what looked like "rotting" (like a
 MH> cavity). Due to the aluminum being eaten away, it sprung a leak.

That usually occurs when non-distilled water is used to replace 50/50
coolant. The factory recommended that you use 50/50 coolant to replace
that which has leaked or boiled out of the system. Plus going too long
between coolant changes. Don't believe that 5 year statement on the
coolant container.

 MH> At 67k, the dealership put some type of goo to try and seal it after
 MH> taking the lower intake off.  That worked for about 70k more miles
 MH> and then it failed again.

 MH> The people that replaced my motor believe the original heads might
 MH> not have been casted properly.  They couldn't really explain what had
 MH> happened.

Old Pontiac engines use an aluminum timing chain cover that also passes
coolant through part of it to the water pump, located in it. My 1970
Firebird had a problem with the aluminum corroding away the aluminum that
surrounded coolant passage way, a stainless steel sleeve that was cast
into the cover. That was due in part by the former owners who used
non-distilled water as a replacement for lost coolant.

I expoxyed the corroded aluminum after cleaning it up and drilling a few
'attachment' holes to keep the epoxy in place. That lasted about 10 years,
but eventually gave way to more corrosion. I eventually replaced it after
stranding myself at the shop one night while I was retrieving a file
folder that I had at the office. I had the new aluminum cover powder
coated to keep it from the same fate as the original. It's  probably still
out there without any corrosion after all these years.

 RW>> That engine was also used in the Lumina and Malibu, and they haven't
 RW>> faired any better. Malibu's can be picked up cheap these days and
 RW>> after a head gasket job, they can last longer than they originally
 RW>> did.

 MH> True.  That is my plan.  Rebuild the car better than it was to start
 MH> with. I'm already 75% there.  :)

It's a never ending cycle...


                R\%/itt


  ... Only those who will risk going too far can possibly
  ... find out how far one can go ~ TS Eliot


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