crap

[cbarr300]

So, I asked my brother to put my headgaskets on while I was at work....that way that'd be one thing I don't have to worry about.

Well, I get home and he tells me that he used a few small dabs of RTV to hold it in place (Like the dowels weren't enough......

I haven't torqued the heads down yet, all he did was put the heads on the block.

I was wondering if it'd be ok to take the gaskets off and clean the rtv off with some acetone?

Or do you think the small dabs would be alright?

Thanks

 

[tjh566]

idk dude, i'd take em back off and clean that **** off of there, not sure if it would damage the gasket or not tho, maybe someone else can input on that. but head gaskets are one of those things that i'd rather be safe than sorry on cus tearing back down to the heads would be a pain in the ass to do AGIAN. mines as well do it now while you have easy access.

 

[eagleautosports]

Depends on where the dabs are but I'd still take it off. Better to do it the right way then to always wonder until you crank it.

 

[cbarr300]

Yeah, I think I'm just gonna take them off and clean them up a bit. They haven't been torqued down...so hopefully the gasket won't be damaged when I clean it up.

I'd just hate to have to buy another set of headgaskets because of like 3 dabs of rtv....of course, I'd hate to have to tear it all apart again....AND THEN buy another set.

we'll see

 

[MI95Cobra]

i agree.....

 

[final5-0]

Since the hg's haven't been crushed from torquing, I'd think they
are still fine.

I'd carefully clean them up along with the block deck and head
surface.

Grady

 

[trav_19]

i would be safe and get another set of gaskets...no sense chancing it, i think acetone is strong for gasket material.. and why would he put rtv to hold them???? has he ever worked on a vehicle before? sounds like you should have just done it right yourself i would check all over once you pop those heads back off to see if the rtv is down block anything and where all its at

 

[cbarr300]

He's done a few before.....so I figured he'd be alright......apparently he just has no common sense....

Thanks guys

 

[tjh566]

dowels are useful, lol

 

[86bluecobra]

the first time i installed the heads on my engine i didnt have dowels at all. Seemed kinda wierd to me that there was nothig to hold the gasket on while i was trying to install the heads. It worked just fine though. I would also clean that silicone off. The head gaskets will be fine if they have not been torqued down to reuse.

 

[final5-0]

the first time i installed the heads on my engine i didnt have dowels at all. Seemed kinda wierd to me that there was nothig to hold the gasket on while i was trying to install the heads. It worked just fine though. I would also clean that silicone off. The head gaskets will be fine if they have not been torqued down to reuse.

No d pins

That would not be too bad with Aluminum

But with boat anchor heavy iron types

Grady

 

[cbarr300]

haha, dear lord.....I could only imagine not using dowel pins with cast-irons.

Those things are friggin heavy.

Thanks for the replies guys :SNSign:

 

[reddy351]

Just >carefully< scrape the rtv off with your fingernail. That stuff comes off easy.

 

[cbarr300]

yeah, I didn't wanna use acetone on the gaskets.....maybe just a lil bit if necessary

 

[mo_dingo]

No d pins

That would not be too bad with Aluminum

But with boat anchor heavy iron types

Grady

I just finished helping a guy out on a 390 FE to install his intake manifold, which weighs 90lbs and you cannot use studs (intake is part of the heads). WHAT A PITA!!!! If anyone thinks our cars are hard you should see a FE!!!!!

But yeah, I really doubt the RTV will have that great of an effect. I would try to get the rtv off with your fingers first, then try to softly scrape it with a plastic scraper. Then, if that doesn't work, buy new gaskets.

If the RTV is on the rings for any of the cylinders, make sure it's off completely. If it's away from the cylinders, I would just get as much off as possible without resorting to chemicals. Who knows what they will do to the material.

The rings that surround the cylinder are the most important. That cannot be compromised. Everywhere else isn't quite as critical IMO but still needs to me as clean as possible.
Scott