KEN-CO plenum kits

[auto trainy]

I've read many posts on Ken-Co upper plenum repair kits for 3.8 v6 engines and would like to see (if possible) what is in the kit that makes it superior to stock replacement parts? I also would like to find out how and where it can be purchased,since trying to reach the MFR.by phone and E-Mail has had no results.

[J-red]

Their marketing is pitiful. The USA source is AU-VE-CO at 800.354.9816. They only do wholesale, but they can give you an idea of where to attempt to order it. Had no luck in Nashville due to min. order requirements and who knows when delivery, so I made my own. It has worked thus far.(3 months and 6k+ miles) I had already replaced the air box at 80K and it has 133k+ now. I am cheap, but I would have preferred the kit. I did not have time to wait because I needed my car to run, not be a paperweight.

[Hansnet]

Originally Posted by J-red

Their marketing is pitiful. The USA source is AU-VE-CO at 800.354.9816. They only do wholesale, but they can give you an idea of where to attempt to order it. Had no luck in Nashville due to min. order requirements and who knows when delivery, so I made my own. It has worked thus far.(3 months and 6k+ miles) I had already replaced the air box at 80K and it has 133k+ now. I am cheap, but I would have preferred the kit. I did not have time to wait because I needed my car to run, not be a paperweight.

KEN-CO is a wholesale company so they obviously have no need for marketing to consumers.


I am also wondering what replaceing the air box has to do with this.

Anyway...

A 25 second search revealed:

Ken Spragg mentioned to check out bGagnon's Auto & RV Sales (800-498-3350). They are priced at $80.

http://www.ken-co.com/manifold/default.htm

I dont know a huge amount about the l36 but since every other 3800 club or forum on the net talks about DORMAN intakes since they have a reinforced area where the stove pipe is.

Keep in mind ken-co makes a kit, NOT THE MANIFOLD. It would be stupid not to replace the upper and lower intake maniolds if you dug that far, so keep this in mind as well if you carry thru.

[auto trainy]

Ive got a 95 that's waiting for the plenum and gaskets to be done next week and am wondering if GM did any revisions for this problem,anybody know?

[Hansnet]

Ken-Co Industries Upper Plenum & Lower Intake Repair Kit
http://ken-co.com/manifold/default.htm

You can purchase the kit from Gagnon Auto and RV. They are a GMC dealer. The phone number is 1-800-498-3350. The price is $80 shipped in the US

I strongly feel that this is an essential upgrade for the 95+ [3800 Series 2]. This is the right way to prevent the problem from happening again. I don't think my car has the upper intake leak yet but since my lower intake is leaking I am going to have this installed at the same time. Plus I will feel confident that I won't need a new upper intake in 20,000 miles.

One note is that the upper sleeve from the Ken-Co kit for the upper intake does not seem to fit into the Dorman replacement intake being sold on Ebay and local parts stores. The Dorman hole seems to be a 1/8" too small for the Ken-Co kit. The lower intake manifold stove pipe in the kit should still work fine however and will be better than keeping the OEM stovepipe in place. I strongly feel that if you need a new intake you would be better off with a new GM upper manifold part #89017272 and then also install the Ken-Co kit or a new GM lower intake manifold with the new smaller diameter stove pipe and you won't need the Ken-Co kit.

The GM part# 89017272 upper manifold is $135 from GMpartsdirect.com
The GM part# 24508923 lower manifold is $167 from GMpartsdirect.com
The Ken-co Kit is $80 from Gagnon Auto

For those wondering, it seems that GM redesigned the lower intake in 2000 or 2001 with a new smaller diameter stove pipe. The part number for 1995-2004 has not changed but the replacement parts are rumored to have the smaller diameter stove pipe installed in them. To bad we don't know how to identify the changeover on the outside of the lower intake before it is all taken apart.

1. If the upper intake is still good then just use the Ken-Co kit for both upper and lower manifolds. Metal sleeve for the upper and smaller diameter metal egr tube for lower. Cheapest

2. If the upper is damaged get a new or used Rochester or Delphi one that is not damaged. Then install the Ken-Co kit on both upper and lower. Metal sleeve for the upper and smaller diameter metal egr tube for lower. You could also buy a new upper from the dealer that should be the Delphi unit. Avg price

3. If the upper is damaged replace the upper and lower manifold with new parts from GM that have both been redesigned. The upper (new design Delphi) being more heat resitant and the lower using the smaller diameter EGR tube. Most expensive

yeah.....

[auto trainy]

Thank's Hansnet,this is the info I have serched for,it will come in handy when my 1998 Regency fails.

[John91LX]

With the new and more robust Upper Intake Manifold (plenum) Why is it nessessary to replace the Lower Manifold?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by John91LX

With the new and more robust Upper Intake Manifold (plenum) Why is it nessessary to replace the Lower Manifold?

Sorry but please check the date of the thread before resurrecting. There is no continuity in the discussion due to the age. In most circumstances any over 3 months is classified as old. Thread closed.