With as hard as a head gasket swap seems to be on you, do you really want to do it all over again just because you don't want to do an extra hour AT ABSOLUTE MOST more work now? Think about redoing EVERYTHING vs. the possibility of doing the pass side quickly.

Do it correctly and it's just as easy as the drivers side.

 

Think about it this way. If u do both of them u will save on a set of intake gaskets. Plus u won't have to put the car on pause later.

 

If he's been working on it he should be done by now.

 

Yeah, update?

 

Only worked on it for a few hours..

Had to cut the y pipe to drop the headers, a buddy of mine is going to weld them back togeather tho at the end of this.

Driver side head came off. Looks good, all cylinders look good. its back on with the new gasket waiting to be torqued down.

Passenger side has 6 more bolts and it comes out.

Anybody know how to set the factory rockers?

 

Did you have the heads checked for straightness? And if so did they need any milling? Did you apply a small dab of RTV sealant to the wings of the gaskets? Did you reuse the stock bolts or buy a set of new bolts?

To set the rockers...www.shbox.com

 

SOO CLOSEE!!!

Drivers side head torqued with new gasket... CHECK!

Passenger side head torqued with new gasket... CHECK!

Spark plugs on Drivers side... CHECK!

Spark plugs on passenger side... CHECK!

Drivers Side header bolt up... CHECK!

Now we have to...

Bolt up passenger side header, Bolt on Intake, Valve covers, Wire it all back up, put the alternator on, fill it up with coolant and oil, and fire it up!!!! along with other misc. things.

 

please tell me you did not use the same head bolts???? please tell me you did not if so you were just practicing everything you just did

 

One side was replaced with new bolts.... the other side we coated with ARP head bolt lubricant. I ran low on money.

 

Slow down and answer some questions. For starters...

You said you replaced one side with new bolts, but reused the old head bolts on the other side, because you were low on money? Gonna cost you a hell of a lot more in the long run. What does ARP head bolt lubricant have to do with anything?

Did you at least use thread sealant on ALL of the bolts?

Answer some questions will ya?

 

yeah seriously. there are alot of unknowns with you and what your doing. did you check the heads to make sure there not warped ?? It wouldnt hurt to take .010" off to true them up. and how can you only replace one side with new head bolts ??? ARP head bolts arent that expensive. Im sure if you were to beg a good friend or your parents for the extra $50 you woulda had to spend. someone woulda helped you out. Especially if you lost a headgasket and reused the same bolts.. youll be doing this in awhile

 

I didn't get the heads checked. A friend used a straigtedge and some gauge and said they looked fine.

I got felpro head bolts.

Yes they were all lubricated with arp head bolt lube.

 

Being lubricated isn't the huge concern, they need sealant on them. They go into coolant passages.

 

Why did you put new head bolts only on one head?

 

How did he check for straightness? Typical metal straightedge's aren't accurate enough to detect a .003" variance in head surface. You need a machinists' straightedge. Even moreso, you should have had them checked PROFESSIONALLY.

How did you tighten the bolts? Both the Felpro and the stock ones?

I have a feeling you're going to be doing this job again.

Did I also mention that you still haven't answered all of the questions posed here? I'll happily list them for you if you want in case your reading comprehension is lacking.

1.) Did you use thread SEALANT (not bolt lube)?
2.) How did you tighten the bolts, both the Felpro and the old stock bolts?
3.) Did you apply a dab of RTV sealant on the wings of the head gaskets?

 

Thread selant on the felpros, came on them.

Didn't do it on the stock ones.

We used a torque wrench to tighten the bolts.

I plan on having my heads ported at the end of summer. So I'm not too worried bout doing it again.

 

when trying to give some one the right advice goes wrong...lol i guess your car not mine.

 

No thread sealant on the old stock bolts? The new one's came with thread sealant and that didn't ring a bell with the old ones? You're going to be doing it again sooner than you think. Real shame considering it's your daily driver.

Specifically how did you tighten the bolts? What pattern and what torque?

I'm not trying to get you down, but these are things you'll have to know when you do it again, which will undoubtedly be before the end of the summer, ported heads or not.

 

oh man. I wish you the best OP.

This hobby is expensive, do it right the first time.

 

Late to the thread, but did you turn the motor over with the heads off to make sure all the pistons cam up the same height? with water going through the cylinders its possible to bend a rod.