head gaskets
anyhow I just looked at autozone for gasket kit and it recommends new head bolts. Are these torque to yield bolts like the late model diesels (1 time use)?
does anyone know if actual studs are available and at what cost? the replacement bolts cost about $40 a set.
if its a cracked head, anyone have a source for them?
thanks hank
The bolts are torque to yield, do not attempt to reuse them.
If you buy new heads, there are a few choices, try to find some that use hardened seat inserts, most stock heads are pretty well shot by 150,000 so if you have more that that, pretty much all of your stock valve seats will be shot whether the head has cracked or not. If it hasn't cracked, you still need new seats put in, which will probably cost nearly as much as a new head that already has good seats installed. Heads that have hardened inserts are better than stock.
I ordered my heads through my machine shop, I can't remember the brand.
Get the Fel-Pro or Victor Reinz head gaskets. Replace the upper and lower intake gaskets, and all injector O rings while you are at it, and replace the PCV valve and inspect all hoses, replace any that are brittle or cracked.



