Head gasket on 200 I6
- Thread starter Bugler
- Start date
this is a pretty simple job. the carb and exhaust comes off, pull the valve cover, rocker arm assembly, and push rods, drain the cooling system, and then remove the upper radiator hose, then unbolt the head and lift if off. remember to keep the pushrods in order. there is one bolt on the head that has a threaded hole in the top for connecting the battery ground, remember where that bolt goes. the head isnt too heavy, but due to its length it is a bit awkward to get out of the engine compartment. the help of a friend pulling it out is a good idea. after cleaning the gasket surfaces, put the new gasket in place, and torque the head down in three steps, first round 30ft/lbs, second round 50ft/lbs, third round 70ft/lbs. the maximum head torque is 60-70ft/lbs.
one more thing, the drivers side rear head bolt has the oil passage that feeds the rocker arm shaft. MAKE SURE this passage is CLEAN before you put things back together. in your engine it will look like any other head bolt, what some old time engine builders did was to grind a flat on the bolt shank to allow for more oil flow. a better choice these days is to use the heda bolt from the 75-83 engines as they are a slightly smaller shank to allow oil to pass.
one more thing, the drivers side rear head bolt has the oil passage that feeds the rocker arm shaft. MAKE SURE this passage is CLEAN before you put things back together. in your engine it will look like any other head bolt, what some old time engine builders did was to grind a flat on the bolt shank to allow for more oil flow. a better choice these days is to use the heda bolt from the 75-83 engines as they are a slightly smaller shank to allow oil to pass.
