My awesome local Rover mechanic will do my wires for $200. I bought STI wires from Will Tillery.

He's going to do it the old fashion way...and I'm wondering if there's anything I should have checked or replaced while the intake manifold is off?

Of course he's going to drain and fill the coolant.

But what about gaskets, etc?

 

yes...you must do the IM gaskets.

 

I just did mine. I didn't do the lower intake gaskets. At 55k I wouldn't touch'em unless they're leaking. While you're in there be sure to tighten up the inner valve cover bolts. They vibrate loose and you get vc leaks and no way to tighten them with the upper intake on. Also if you have secondary air injection you need to spray PB blaster on the SAI pipes at the big nuts or you're going to have to buy $400 in new ones to do this job. The gaskets alone are half of what you're paying. $200 is a steal for the job if you can't do it yourself and you have SAI.

 

Have you had any internal engine noise, if so have them check the rocker shaft, arms, push rods and lifters for wear.