[JamesR]

This question is for the guys that have one of these v8s in their montes.

How crowded is the engine bay?
How much of a task would it be to replace the spark plugs & cables, battery, air filter, oil filter, alternator, timing belt, and any other type of routine and semi routine maintenance?

I will likely be buying a new W body in the near future. Looking at either a monte/impala or grand prix with the v8. Also may give the Buick Lacross with that new 3.6 dohc a look.

After owning a 95 lumina with the 3.4 dohc for several years, I would like to get something that is a bit easier and cheaper to work with.

Thanks

[06MonteSS]

JamesR, on Jun 11 2007, 10:28 PM, said:

This question is for the guys that have one of these v8s in their montes.

How crowded is the engine bay?
How much of a task would it be to replace the spark plugs & cables, battery, air filter, oil filter, alternator, timing belt, and any other type of routine and semi routine maintenance?

I will likely be buying a new W body in the near future. Looking at either a monte/impala or grand prix with the v8. Also may give the Buick Lacross with that new 3.6 dohc a look.

After owning a 95 lumina with the 3.4 dohc for several years, I would like to get something that is a bit easier and cheaper to work with.

Thanks

Crowded aint the word for it man!! I can't fit my finger between the serpentine belt/pullies and the side of the engine bay - that's how packed in there it is.

Front spark plugs/wires, no big deal... back ones, good luck! you'd need some special tools/swivels/extensions to reach them, and then there's the issue of being able to see them.

Battery is easy - it's on the passenger side... just unbolt the front sway bar/support brace, move it out of the way and you can lift the battery right out.

Air filter (driver's side) isn't too bad either. The stock box has a couple clips on it that you undo and the side of the stock air box comes off. It's easier if you disconnect the intake tube from the MAF sensor though, so you have room to push the air box cover back far enough so you can get the air filter out. Me, I put in a CAI with a 9" K&N cone filter that clamps right to the MAF sensor - much easier.

Oil filter is easy to get to.

Alternator is up top, in front of the passenger side of the windsheild. doesn't look like it'd be too hard to swap out, as long as you don't drop that serpentine belt... as I said, there isn't a whole lot of room on that side of the engine - maybe 1/2 inch from the belt/pullies to the wheel well. sh*t is TIGHT.

This post has been edited by 06MonteSS: 14 June 2007 - 12:21 PM