Equinox Manifold Gasket Set (Notice Any Changes?)

[onefastV6]

The 3400 equinox/torrent block is drilled from the factory for the valley gaskets. I drilled the block in my 2001 GAGT for these gaskets when I did the 3500 top end swap a few years back. My second car (2000 GAGT) is now leaking coolant from the LIM so I figured I would pick this set up since it was cheap.

Locating and drilling the holes is simple, below is a pic of what 20 mins of careful locating and drilling achieved. I located the holes with a dot of axle grease on the studs and then grease the drill bit with a vac running to catch any shavings.

[3400-95-Modified]

so then this is a 3500 lower intake set...

ok wait, looking at the port it's not, its a 3400 set, but why on earth include valley gaskets that wont fit... that just doesn't make any sense, unless there are direction on how to locate the holes and drill it with the pack of info.

3500 valley gaskets are P/N 12579142 I have a set right here... I wonder if they are different.

[onefastV6]

those are 3400 valley gaskets?

Do they not have the little studs on them that the 3500 ones have?

Yes they have the little studs on them, so you would have to drill the block to use them. Not really a big deal as it only takes 20 mins top to locate and drill the block.

[3400-95-Modified]

those are 3400 valley gaskets?

Do they not have the little studs on them that the 3500 ones have?

[IsaacHayes]

Right, just saying GM finally resolved the gasket issues with a good design in the gen 4 motors.

[onefastV6]

Interesting. But I still wouldn't trust em to last forever.

It's nice the 3900 has BOTH metal LIM gaskets AND doesn't route the cooling through the intake. That way no chance for failure, and even no chance for vacuum leak from the ports around the intakes walking/warping/cracking. My 1st intake gasket had the coolant leak AND vacuum leak. That's right the intake ports were cracked and warped and leaky too. Engine ran so much better after I changed em.

I don't expect them to last forever, however the improvements are nice.
The 3900 is nice, but irrelevant in terms of gasket design for the 3100, 3400 and LX9 3500

[IsaacHayes]

Interesting. But I still wouldn't trust em to last forever.

It's nice the 3900 has BOTH metal LIM gaskets AND doesn't route the cooling through the intake. That way no chance for failure, and even no chance for vacuum leak from the ports around the intakes walking/warping/cracking. My 1st intake gasket had the coolant leak AND vacuum leak. That's right the intake ports were cracked and warped and leaky too. Engine ran so much better after I changed em.

[onefastV6]

I recently picked up a OEM gasket set Part #89018139 for the equinox/torrent on ebay, for $25 shipped..... and here is what I discovered:

* They added a metal tab below the center intake port of the LIM gaskets

* The set now includes the "Valley Gaskets", Part #12603280
(The bad news is, GM does not sell this part number separate)

* The UIM gaskets are the same as the 3500 UIM gaskets