LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Head gasket on backwards?

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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 01:13 PM
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Default Head gasket on backwards?

Well, I've been thinking/wondering if my friend put my head gasket on the right way or not. He said he wasn't really sure which way to put it on the head so I guess he put it on which way he thought worked best. (this is what I get for getting help from my friends when I go grab somethin to eat) haha.

So what I'm asking is IF he put it on wrong. What will happen? I mean the only way he could have put it on wrong is by having i flipped over (the "upside" be faceing down vise versa). Should I untorque the bolts on the head and get a new gasket and put it back to know for sure (sucks cuz they aren't very cheap) but I need to do this right I suppose. But only want to if there is chance of something not running right or something. Any input appreciated, thanks alot guys and I apologize for the dumb question..
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 02:24 PM
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If he put it on up-side down then basically it will be blocking off some of the Water Passages.

If you do un-bolt it, you would need to get another Gasket, cause once you torque it on, it's already seated itself into it's spot, and given it the "Quench". You can't re-torque most Gaskets.

I would start asking him what it looked like when it put it on, like what the side that looked like that was facing up.
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 02:37 PM
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Well, I guess to be safe I'm just gonna buy another gasket and replace it....don't wanna f anything up on a question.
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 03:09 PM
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I'd make your buddy go half with you..unless you asked him to do it..then it's on you I guess..
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 03:21 PM
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Yeah I asked him to help me out...But oh well, live and learn I guess. You shouldn't run different compressed thickness gaskets should you? These are .026" and the local parts store doesn't have the exact size I have on the driver side...Does it absolutely have to be the same or can it be a little different?
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 03:55 PM
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The same, no questions asked. Get the same one you had.
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:03 PM
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NOT THE REPLY I WANTED haha jk, If you're gonna do it do it right and I was pretty sure this way is the right way. Thanks for the help man.
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:08 PM
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Get the GM Impala gasket, .26 to .28 isn't enough that I'd worry over
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:50 PM
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He should get the same one that he has..
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by the_merv
He should get the same one that he has..
Nono, I meant re-doing BOTH to .28, if the .26s aren't as readily obtainable as I was gathering from what he said.
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 05:06 PM
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Oh..ok..lol
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by the_merv
Oh..ok..lol
"I find your lack of faith disturbing!"



And this one's for the OP
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 06:58 PM
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it's a mr. gasket .026", i'm just gonna order one tomorrow morning
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 11:34 PM
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Just to throw another monkey wrench at you....that Mr. Gasket head gasket does not have a right side up. Your buddie probably put it on perfectly because one side up is as good as the other side up.
Karl Ellwein
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Old Nov 2, 2008 | 11:57 PM
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So when you put it on one way and it fits without blocking any passages then take it and flip it over, it still won't block any passages? But he did torque it down in one stage. Straight to 65lbs. Rather than the 3 stages gradually to 65lbs. I broke them loose then went back and torqued it down in 3 stages, did THAT **** the gasket by untorquing it then torquing it again, even though it wasn't moved at all and was still bolted in, just loosened a bit then retorqued.

To say the least this has been somewhat of a trial and error process haha..

Last edited by lt1z28camaro; Nov 3, 2008 at 12:08 AM.
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by lt1z28camaro
So when you put it on one way and it fits without blocking any passages then take it and flip it over, it still won't block any passages? But he did torque it down in one stage. Straight to 65lbs. Rather than the 3 stages gradually to 65lbs. I broke them loose then went back and torqued it down in 3 stages, did THAT **** the gasket by untorquing it then torquing it again, even though it wasn't moved at all and was still bolted in, just loosened a bit then retorqued.

To say the least this has been somewhat of a trial and error process haha..
No matter which way up, the water passage holes of the gasket will be the same. There really is no way to put the gasket on upside down.

And you can take the head off an on as many times as you want and the gasket should still be good, (as long as you don't get oil or some gunk on it and the motor has not run).

Loosening the head bolts and re-torquing them is fine and won't hurt a thing.

Karl Ellwein
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Karl Ellwein
No matter which way up, the water passage holes of the gasket will be the same. There really is no way to put the gasket on upside down.

And you can take the head off an on as many times as you want and the gasket should still be good, (as long as you don't get oil or some gunk on it and the motor has not run).

Loosening the head bolts and re-torquing them is fine and won't hurt a thing.

Karl Ellwein
I don't know about Mr Gasket and the material they use, but on a stock style head gasket, I wouldn't be risking it. Even if it hasn't been ran and brought up to operating temperature yet. This isn't a valve cover gasket where it might leak some oil (cork style, not re-usable rubber like center bolt heads), if it goes or leaks then it's quite a problem.
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