Blown head gasket-what else do i do while engine is apart

[hollant]

Well, I blew a head gasket while at the track this weekend. I guess I'll have to take the top half of the motor off. amnit:

Any suggestions of what else to take care of while the engine is apart? I have a completely stock 93 Cobra that has a Cartech turbo kit on it making 6 pounds of boost.

What gasket should I use? Should I switch to studs? I've thought about new heads or a port and polish...

What would you do in my shoes?

Thanks!

 

[criticman]

I would check the pistons, rings, see if there is any abnormal wear. New heads would be nice, or at the very least have yours ported and polished by a local machine shop for cheap.

 

[TheUser]

Not so sure you're going to be able to "see" any abnormal wear on the rings just by pulling the heads - I certainly couldn't have when I did mine. You could do a compression test and leak-down test BEFORE you pull the heads and the results would tell you if you need to actually do more than head gaskets (rings, valve seals).

Might as well do studs. They're only like $50 more and pay for themselves the 2nd time you change head-gaskets. I'm glad I got mine as I ended up pulling my heads later.

Be sure and clean everything really well and take your time. I wouldn't buy the really expensive head gaskets (cometec, etc); spend that money on a good tune so you won't blow them again. I'd get the fel pro's personally.

Depending on the condition of your parts, you might need new ones or you might not. If your pushrods are all straight, you could probably reuse them. You might consider a custom cam? If this isn't your daily driver, take some time and plan what you want to do and spend your money right - do what you want to do now, so you don't end up pulling it apart 6 months or a year from now to add things you could add now.