blueday

Hi,

I'm replacing a headgasket on an ls3. Is there anything special i need to know when putting it back together?

i bought a new headgasket and head bolts. I have the torque specs for putting it all back together. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something odd that needs to be done when assembling. I'm reusing the intake bolts and gaskets.

I'd appreciate any help, this is my first time in an LS engine. Came from elder sbc world.

thanks!

R

DaddySS

are you using GM MLS head gasket? The bolts are torque to yield so you'll need new head bolts.

G Atsma

Here ya go......

blueday

Yes new gm gasket and head bolts. Seems almost too easy.

Easy enough.....i bought an ls build book and it covers gen 3 and gen 4 build ups. Just makes me feel better before i begin assembling it since I'm new to the ls world. Appreciate the advice.

G Atsma

Actually I was aiming my comment to the poster who mentioned you would need head bolts, after you had said you bought them already....

eb110americana

iTrader: (4)

I believe the "torque specs" will be torque-to-angle, so you will need a torque angle gauge. I recommend a quality one where it doesn't have a plastic body that will flex.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

Get an ARP thread chaser and double/triple check to make sure the head bolts holes are clean and free of any coolant. Other than that it's pretty straight forward.

blueday

Funny you mention that now....ha. i put it together over the weekend and the cheapo torque angle gauge screwed me over on the 1st 4 bolts. Luckily I marked the 12 o'clock position on all the bolts and was watching the position of my wrench. I ended estimating all of them for the 2nd 90degree and 3rd 70degree passes. Cranked it up Sunday and no issues.

eb110americana

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, I did mine with one of those. The trick, I have found, is you don't want to push against the torque angle gauge bar as you tighten. It will flex too much to get a usable reading. Instead, put a ratchet on to take up any slack, but don't turn. Select a surface and place the bar against it, but before tightening, reverse the dial by the final number of degrees desired. Then just stop tightening when the angle gauge touches the surface.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

warriorpluto

iTrader: (2)

Make sure all coolant are out of the threads or you'll have yourself a cracked block. That's the most important and most tedious process lol

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

That's a good tip.