Head gaskets! Wheeee!

[SuperSix]

After taking apart the motor as much as I have, I am thinking I should replace the head gaskets while I am in there. I say this because I put a torque wrench on the head bolts, and 2-3 of them took a few more ft lbs than the others, (~1/2 turn more), and I want the piece of mind it's done right. I was told the gaskets were replaced and haven't been run, and I don't know if the head bolts have been reused or are new.

Seems the general consensus is that Felpro 9441PT are the best for street applications. The motor is .030 over - will the 944pt's work? I see they are listed as "stock replacements" @ 3.860", does the boring of the block dictate larger diameter gaskets? Like a 4.020" set?

I read I have to replace the ARP bolts I have now, and that the studs are not much more money, and better. True?

Any tips/tricks to getting this done?

This is what it looks like now. Hell, what about valve springs, retainers, etc? Might as well do them now?









Found a nice kink in my fuel feed line.  

[Steve Wood]

there is no reason to replace arp bolts...they should be good for quite a few times.  Factory bolts have to be replaced as they are TTY and cannot be reused.

Use the correct part number...do not substitute.

Personally, I would retorque the existing bolts unless you know you have a blown hg.   Much more likely to be successful doing that than going thru the replacement process and getting it messed up.

[SuperSix]

there is no reason to replace arp bolts...they should be good for quite a few times.

[daveismissing]

Get rid of that fram filter too.

[SuperSix]

Get rid of that fram filter too.

I will. I have a stack of PF47.

No help on the headgasket questions Dave?I'm sure you've blown a few. Head gaskets that is...

[Pyro6]

If your that far apart with it, replace the HG's. Than you know what you have.

[daveismissing]

Original head gaskets amigo
no comment

[Steve Wood]

I would back them off about 10 lb ft and then bring them up again...

Also, if I felt like pushing my luck and changing gaskets, I would not use Felpro as some have not had as good of luck with them lately.  I would use the factory gaskets which I believe were Victor Reinze

[SuperSix]

ok. I decided to just retorque - we'll see how that goes.

The intake gasket was installed, the car never run, and then I removed it. Had silicone sealant on it, I scraped the remnants off the heads, it hadn't stuck to the intake gasket - is it safe to just reuse the intake gasket? Should I use silicone around the intake ports? There was no silicone on the end rubber gaskets - silicone them?

[daveismissing]

Why was the engine originally apart Mark,
upgrades or repair?

[SuperSix]

I don't know.

I know the motor was rebuilt when it was cut .030 - I assume a head gasket was blown, facilitating the replacement of the head gaskets. It hasn't run since the new head gaskets were installed.

[Steve Wood]

do not use silicone around intake ports...

use something like gascacinch or permatex aviation

[Steve Wood]

also, remember that the torque for the intake in the manual is wrong.  It will cause you broken bolts and/or stripped threads...30-35 ft lbs is enuf.

I suspect you can reuse the gasket but it is relatively cheap if you are concerned.

[SuperSix]

do not use silicone around intake ports...

use something like gascacinch or permatex aviation

This stuff?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HBM3QQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[Steve Wood]

that works..just don't spill it on anything you want to get it off of