Thanks to all who contributed here regarding IMG replacement. I am now 5 hrs. into job and am really glad I kept my two 70's vintage MOPARS, where you can literally sit inside the engine compartment while working under the hood!!! Did anyone else who did this job themselves have a thought that these vehicles (newer GM ones) are meant to be "disposable" rather than serviceable? I remember tight fits when working on 60's big block muscle machines, but come on - alternator bolts that butt up to the firewall when you remove them??? Having to take so many fittings, connectors, etc. apart just to pull an intake? And what's up with the power steering pump - if I had to replace it only would I have to remove the fuel injector rail first?? (I still can't get it to come out after trying for an hour...) Last affair I had with a GM was pulling / rebuilding 2.5L 4 cyl. in a Calais (had one of the notorious cracked cyl. heads) - in retrospect, that job was much easier!!
Well, I will continue this adventure on my '99 Montana but without the input from you all I probably today would have called the local garage to have them tow it there to finish the job, as before I read this it looked like I got in way over my head. So let's continue to educate each other and who knows, maybe the local dealer will eventually have to "lower" the labor rate for lack of business (well I can dream, can't I?)... Now, do you prefer liquid bandage or good old Curads?!!!