Head gasket removal trouble

[monckywrench]

Can't hurt to have the machine shop eyeball it, and it it is hosed running it on a belt surfacer does make it pretty. If you are selling it you'll recover the investment and avoid hosing the person buying it.
If you don't get it machined I 'll re-emphasize THOROUGH, GENTLE, (AVOID GOUGING) scraping of head and block with a razor blade (single edge, get a pack of them) and the Fel-Pro gasket. Make it immaculate, and torque it per the manual.

 

[earthman]

These things always warp and usually crack. You'd be better having it thouroughly checked and getting a rebuilt head if its not useable. Why inflict it on some other poor sucker? You think 25 bucks is alot for bolts? They cost 200 bucks for some vehicles. And what would you think if one snapped while you were putting it back together?

 

[Soybomb]

Heh I've done a few of those, if you have any problems let me know I have the 88 factory service manual kicking around here for all fwd dodges that year Use the new head bolts, they're stretched and damaged. Use the mopar gasket from the dealership preferably. Take the head to the machine shop and let them check it for warping and cracks. Keep the receipts then and use it as a selling point when you sell the car. Be sure to get the cam back to TDC when you put the timing belt back on. You can use a small mirror to look through the holes on the cam sprocket and be sure the horizontal line runs right through the middle.

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Heh I've done a few of those, if you have any problems let me know I have the 88 factory service manual kicking around here for all fwd dodges that year Use the new head bolts, they're stretched and damaged. Use the mopar gasket from the dealership preferably. Take the head to the machine shop and let them check it for warping and cracks. Keep the receipts then and use it as a selling point when you sell the car. Be sure to get the cam back to TDC when you put the timing belt back on. You can use a small mirror to look through the holes on the cam sprocket and be sure the horizontal line runs right through the middle.

Well, we put the head back on, I didn't take it to get machined or anything, not worth the expense as the car only cost $350 US.
It's weird, when tightening the head bolts a few of the bolts were "squishy", they wouldn't get up to 90lb-ft's after a 1/4 turn. It was more like 1/2 to 1 full turn for those bolts. The bolt next to right where the old gasket broke (#1 cylinder water jacket) tightened right to 90 though, and was rock hard after 1/4 turn.

 

[Ultima]

Everything's back together but the engine sputters a bit when idling. It doesn't really do it when giving it gas but it never sputtered at all before the gasket was changed. Ah well, at least it works!!

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Ultima
Everything's back together but the engine sputters a bit when idling. It doesn't really do it when giving it gas but it never sputtered at all before the gasket was changed. Ah well, at least it works!!

That's probably timing belt "stretch". I didn't read where you said you were replacing that.
<..... Owns a lot of tools just because I've owned a lot of $500.00 cars.
BTW, can't you rent an air compressor somewhere? Might be nice to know if you're keeping that car.

 

[PreDatoR]

The head does not need to be resurfaced unless it is warped. Why waste money if its still flat?

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Ultima
Everything's back together but the engine sputters a bit when idling. It doesn't really do it when giving it gas but it never sputtered at all before the gasket was changed. Ah well, at least it works!!

That's probably timing belt "stretch". I didn't read where you said you were replacing that.
<..... Owns a lot of tools just because I've owned a lot of $500.00 cars.
BTW, can't you rent an air compressor somewhere? Might be nice to know if you're keeping that car.

I just replaced it a couple months ago so I don't see the point. I could probably rent one somewhere.. I'm sure