Head Gasket Change
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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Head Gasket Change
Ok, so in my other thread there's the truck that needs a head gasket change.
I don't know the year, but it's a carb'd 5.8L. in a 80's series truck.
What -exactly- or as close to exactly is entailed in doing a head gasket change? I would be changing it outside, with limited tools (socket set and???) and have never done this before.
Im fairly mechanicaly knowledgable... the closest thing I can think similar to this type of job is changing out a diff cover... using the RTA stuff... cleaning and putting a seal on it.
Is this possible? Can I do it?
Im gonna try and call my brother (mechanic) and see what he thinks.
thanks guys.
-myers
I don't know the year, but it's a carb'd 5.8L. in a 80's series truck.
What -exactly- or as close to exactly is entailed in doing a head gasket change? I would be changing it outside, with limited tools (socket set and???) and have never done this before.
Im fairly mechanicaly knowledgable... the closest thing I can think similar to this type of job is changing out a diff cover... using the RTA stuff... cleaning and putting a seal on it.
Is this possible? Can I do it?
Im gonna try and call my brother (mechanic) and see what he thinks.
thanks guys.
-myers
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
It's a fairly deep project, expect to have the vehicle down a day or two. The quickest one I have done was 6 hours, but that was in a 302 capri which was closer to the ground and easier to work on. You will need a good torque wrench and a breaker bar. The headbolts are really tough to get loose. I usually have a shop vac handy to get the coolant out of the motor that spills in when you remove the intake and the head. You will need to change your oil right after wards too. You also want to keep your pushrods in order when you remove them so they go back in the same spot you took them from. Get a manual too as you will need the torque specs when putting it back together. You dont have to remove the distributor to pull the intake, but it can make things easier. Just take your time, double check yourself and you should be fine.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 6
From: Parkesburg PA
I've done it on my 302. The first thing I would start with is the exhaust. If you can't get it off, you may want to rethink it.
Get a good shop manual, and you will need a torque wrench. A dead blow mallet can come in handy for whacking stuck parts.
If you have to take the dizzy out, make a few reference marks on the dizzy and rotor so you can get it back in the right way. Also as you pull it, the rotor will spin about 20*.
You can also take pics so you can look back at them if you forget how something goes together.
Book time for the EFI 302 is like 8hrs I think. I would plan 10 - 12, or 1 day apart and 1 day together.
Get a good shop manual, and you will need a torque wrench. A dead blow mallet can come in handy for whacking stuck parts.
If you have to take the dizzy out, make a few reference marks on the dizzy and rotor so you can get it back in the right way. Also as you pull it, the rotor will spin about 20*.
You can also take pics so you can look back at them if you forget how something goes together.
Book time for the EFI 302 is like 8hrs I think. I would plan 10 - 12, or 1 day apart and 1 day together.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,025
Likes: 2,756
From: Virginia
If I remember correctly, in the other post this was the truck you were going to get for a good deal.
First off I would get it home by a trailer or by a tow bar. Then get it running, and get someone to help diagnose what's wrong with it. I would not take their word for it that it was the head gasket. I would also be prepared to possibly get another engine. They are easy to find, and one out of a car would fit. You may find yourself with brand new head gaskets on a worn out engine, so be careful and don't waste your time on an engine on it's last leg.
First off I would get it home by a trailer or by a tow bar. Then get it running, and get someone to help diagnose what's wrong with it. I would not take their word for it that it was the head gasket. I would also be prepared to possibly get another engine. They are easy to find, and one out of a car would fit. You may find yourself with brand new head gaskets on a worn out engine, so be careful and don't waste your time on an engine on it's last leg.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,025
Likes: 2,756
From: Virginia
At least go look at it, and try to run it. If water spews out of the radiator when it runs, then your out of luck. If a little bit of steam comes out of the tailpipe, and it has a little bit of a miss, you might be able to make it slowly home with the radiator cap loose, stopping and check the water once in awhile
