Head Gasket Swap

[TenorPlayinGuy]

I have an 87 mustang lx hatch with a 5.0 and I need to replace the head gasket due to signs of bubbles in radiator, and milky oil. but my question is can I do the swap without removing or loosening the rockers so I dont have valvetrain knocking from bad settings? I did a gasket change on my 94 a while back with a 1.7 cobra rocker conversion and to this date am still having problems with the rocker settings. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
Daniel

 

[TrickStang37]

yes you do. not sure but you can probably get the heads off without loosening them but to put the head back on you would have to since all the pushrods are going to be a different lifts you would really have to press the head down to the block to get the valve open and get the head to sit flat on the block surface. hard to explain. basically, no.

 

[Michael Yount]

Besides, with the new head gasket, the dimensions of things will change slightly, and that will require a re-installation of the rockers. Just take your time - be sure you disassemble in a way where everything goes back where it came from (same lifter/pushrod/rocker on the same cam lobe -- save any exisiting shims and be sure they go back where they were). Doing so will minimize any changes you have to make.

 

[TenorPlayinGuy]

so then If everything goes back the same then how would I compensate for any differences? adding shims? torqueing? etc etc?

 

[Michael Yount]

Daniel - do you know the correct procedure for installing the pedestal mount rockers?