Head Gasket reversed?
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Head Gasket reversed?
I read a couple of weeks ago about some poor soul that assembled his engine with one of the head gaskets reversed, and it was overheating on one side or something. If all goes well, I'll be cranking up my rebuild this weekend, and it's my fear that I reversed a gasket in a "chevy moment". Any ways to tell either before or after it starts? I'd hate to run it for long if it were reversed.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Head Gasket reversed?
I've asked myself that question quite a few times already...
I noted it the first time I set the gasket in place, but I took it on and off a couple of times, and maybe was not as careful those times. I guess that I'll just watch for unusual heating.
I noted it the first time I set the gasket in place, but I took it on and off a couple of times, and maybe was not as careful those times. I guess that I'll just watch for unusual heating.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Maryland
Head Gasket reversed?
Hi. I am the guy who put the head gasket on backwards. it easy to do. Marked on one side of the gasket is " FRONT" If I only looked at it. If the front is front no problem. If you have it on wrong you will know fast. Look at my post on this and there are some tell tail signs, like lower rad hose colapasing when RPM is increased.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Hephzibah Georgia
Head Gasket reversed?
FIX IT NOW. If your engine is out of the truck then take off the head gasket before it goes in the truck. If its in the truck do it before starting. You can really mess up important and expensive components. Adjust the valves after you take off the head to check out the head gasket.
People say you can't only adjust the valves properly until you can get it in the truck and crank it up. There is a way to do it. Take a old compression tester and take the little valve out the end of the hose and hook up an airhose to it while the piston is at top dead center on the compression stroke. Where ever air comes out is the valve that needs adjustment.
People say you can't only adjust the valves properly until you can get it in the truck and crank it up. There is a way to do it. Take a old compression tester and take the little valve out the end of the hose and hook up an airhose to it while the piston is at top dead center on the compression stroke. Where ever air comes out is the valve that needs adjustment.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 214
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From: Hephzibah Georgia
Head Gasket reversed?
FIX IT NOW. If your engine is out of the truck then take off the head gasket before it goes in the truck. If its in the truck do it before starting. You can really mess up important and expensive components. Adjust the valves after you take off the head to check out the head gasket.
People say you can't only adjust the valves properly until you can get it in the truck and crank it up. There is a way to do it. Take a old compression tester and take the little valve out the end of the hose and hook up an airhose to it while the piston is at top dead center on the compression stroke. Where ever air comes out is the valve that needs adjustment.
People say you can't only adjust the valves properly until you can get it in the truck and crank it up. There is a way to do it. Take a old compression tester and take the little valve out the end of the hose and hook up an airhose to it while the piston is at top dead center on the compression stroke. Where ever air comes out is the valve that needs adjustment.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Head Gasket reversed?
There was not enough evidence to make me pull the engine and check the gaskets; it was just a suspicion that I flipped the gasket when I was playing around with one of the heads. So I started it carefully. Runs fine (especially now that it has the correct oil pump driveshaft, and the guy that sold it to me has been properly mourned), but there is a heat problem, and methinks that I may have lost the gamble.
Without the thermostat, at 60 degrees, it has visible strong circulation in the top of the radiator and runs at about 1/4 the gage span (about where I'd want it with a thermostst). With a thermostat, warms up in a few minutes to 3/4 gage, but no visible circulation, and I think is hotter than the gage indicates in places (like improper circulation). Tried a new thermostat to be sure, but no difference.
I'm thinking it's a reversed gasket.
I'm not sure if it's easier to pull the engine, or replace it in the truck. Any suggestions?
Also, any good tricks to figure out which head (s)? I was thinking of taking off the water pump and flushing water or air through to see if I could discern the flow pattern vs stock. I'd rather not take off both heads if not necessary (especially the one by the heater/ac box). BTW, anyone have the name and address of the guy that designed that box?
Sorry about the long post...
Thanks.
Without the thermostat, at 60 degrees, it has visible strong circulation in the top of the radiator and runs at about 1/4 the gage span (about where I'd want it with a thermostst). With a thermostat, warms up in a few minutes to 3/4 gage, but no visible circulation, and I think is hotter than the gage indicates in places (like improper circulation). Tried a new thermostat to be sure, but no difference.
I'm thinking it's a reversed gasket.
I'm not sure if it's easier to pull the engine, or replace it in the truck. Any suggestions?
Also, any good tricks to figure out which head (s)? I was thinking of taking off the water pump and flushing water or air through to see if I could discern the flow pattern vs stock. I'd rather not take off both heads if not necessary (especially the one by the heater/ac box). BTW, anyone have the name and address of the guy that designed that box?
Sorry about the long post...
Thanks.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 296
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From: Maryland
Head Gasket reversed?
The symtoms I had when I reversed my head gasket was, High temp, poping sound at the right (pass side of eng. Also my lower radiator hose would colapse when I increased rpm. The overflow tank would empty when I increased the RPM's an decrease when I let the gas off. After I removed the head there it was, upsidedown. I checked everything put a new headgasket on and all of the above went away. I do not know of any way to test if it is on wrong. Thanks Art
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 146
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Head Gasket reversed?
Thanks for the info. I am limited on time, and so I will try to think this one out carefully. My symptoms were not exactly the same, but similar in that they are odd and otherwise hard to explain. I will likely tear into it Saturday.
Thanks,sfh
Thanks,sfh
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Head Gasket reversed?
This is also covered in "weird overheating problem", but if the head gaskets are correct, you can see a small tab that sticks out near the front. Thankfully I had them right, and didn't go through removal to find out. You can also use a piece of curved wire through the thermostat hole to check out the pass side head gasket. Thanks!
sfh
sfh