[cruizerman]

Hey guys. Just got completly done with my intake gasket changeover. Spent about 30 minutes after running the engine for 10 burping the coolant system of air. I threw in a new thermostat with a cool feature that if it ever fails, it will stick open, instead of closed. It also had a air release valve in it to help let air out.

Anyways, below are some pics of the intake and the associated parts.

I have to do the same thing next week to my 03 silverado because its leaking pretty bad.

I do have some tips for anyone else embarking on this "adventure".

• If your truck has around 90-100k or more on the original hoses, go ahead and cut them off and replace them. It will help drain the coolant quicker too.
• buy the FEL PRO MS98000T gasket set for your 96-99 5.7L. Even though I only used the lower gaskets and the distributor gasket, the price is worth it to ensure you don't have to do this ever again!
• If its old, go ahead and replace the thermostat. Either get one with the air weep hole, or drill it on one that doesn't. It helps alot with burping the system.
• As CKTA pointed out to me, buy several cans of Carb and brake cleaner to clean out the carbon nastyness in the manifold.
• Take your time and do this right. It felt like forever for me but I know everything is back in its place and I know I didn't miss any steps.
• A trick on burping the coolant once your done: Grap the upper hose where it 90's at the fan (where the black sheath starts) and push the hose down and hold it with the rad cap off. Then lift it as high as it will go, and wait. Do this several times, and you will get nearly all of the air out on the first attempts. Don't just squeeze the hose, you need to MOVE it up and down to get the air moving.
• Right before putting the intake back on, coat all of the rockers and the entire lifter valley in fresh, cheap 5w30. It will help keep everything lubed up during re-assembly.
• Dump the oil AFTER you clean out the engine. Leave the filter on. Then pour 2 quarts of fresh oil down the fill cap AND 1 quart down the passanger side breather opening in the valve cover (to help pre-lube everything. Then chekc the level and add as normal. Run the engine till its near normal op temps, shut it down, and drain the oil again, and replace the filter this time.
• When putting the distributor back on, look on the base where the clamp the holds it in place sits. If the dist is durty or a few years old, you will see clean marks where the tabs of the clamp were. This will aid in helping to line up the distributor during re installation. I replaced the cap and rotor BEFORE installing it back in the truck, so that I could line everything up using the marks I transposed to the new rotor and cap.

Now on to the pics!