1st time head gasket replacement, any and all advice!

[L8 MUSL]

pulling my heads and replacing head gaskets, any tips or do's and don'ts are greatly apriciated!
stock heads, I've got the ROL gaskets.
Thanks guy's!

 

[mike keirstead]

Just make sure no debris falls into the lifter valley or cylinders. Anything that the oilpump could pick up. Use a little silicone on the to end gaskets for the lower intake so they dont move well your torquing it down. Label all your vaccum hoses so you dont mix them up when re-assembling the top end. Dont break anybolts or over torque anything.

A few years ago i did the same job......a metal shaving fell into the lifter valley and somehow made it to the oil pan and then the oil pump picked it up....seized the pump sheared the pump drive shaft off and collapsed the lifters. I shut it down..towed it home and tore it apart.
I replaced everything brand new and fired it up to find out i had a turned rod bearing from the little episode..... not a good week.

But now i have a new 308 shortblock and i learned from my mistakes

Just keep every thing clean and go slow when you re-assemble so you dont mess up and have to tear it down again....good luck.

Mike

 

[L8 MUSL]

good advice, thanks Mike.
I've done the whole intake and pretty much everything else a few times, I just want to be sure I don't make a mistake on the head gasket install So that I don't have to do this again for a while.

 

[mike keirstead]

Also make sure you torque the rockers back on correctly. They dont just bolt on. You may already know that.

 

[Mustang928]

And don't forget to have it top dead center... Will make your life easier, and make sure the head gaskets are facing to the front.


Also forgot, chase the threads and get new dowels...