vorgath

It's the blue Fel-Pro headgasket, not sure whether I should use gasket sealant or not.

Also, what about the oil pan gasket ? It's a one piece.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

no on the headgasket just make sure to get heads resurfaced and clean gasket surface on block relaly good..u sho;uldnt need to use any on hte one piece oil pan gasket either.

Randy82WS7

no sealer

in fact you want to clean the block deck and heads surfaces with denatured alcohol before installing them

need to be spotless and clean in order to seal properly

i use a metal gallon can of denatured alcohol from the local farm supply store that i always wipe gasket surfaces down with before assembly




good luck

vorgath

Yeah I already used a wire cup and a scotch brite pad, both with a drill, to get rid of all gasket traces left behind and to smooth it out but not to cut it.

hmmm would rubbing alcohol work ?

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Another thing that really works is naphtha. Cleans extremly well and degreases all the surfaces. Most hardware stores will have both this and denat. alcohol. Also, the best thing to use to clean gasket surfaces is a gasket scraper. Removes teh gasket without removing any surface material.

bilms01

I would not advise using scotch brite or surface conditioning discs. we used to use them all the time especially in intake gaskets till we started having a lot of cars come back with lower end noise. Turns out the little abrasive hairs that come off as they are used are like little slivers of metal and fall down towards the bottom end. They tend to stick on any oily surface and tear a good bearing to shreads. No matter how good you think you clean after you use one it might not be good enough. Those little slivers are a b**** to see and remove.

BMmonteSS

Also those type of disk are abrasive for a reason, they are designed to move material. You may not be able to see it but you are removing metal off of the head and deck surfaces and could lead to a blown head gasket. You can really see this when you surface a head or block. The first couple of passes can really show you how un even a head can get once you grind on them with these disks.

vorgath

Well I've used them before while replacing an intake gasket, so yes not something I would use while the heads are on the engine, however I got the engine apart, and I've only been using them on spots where I had gasket pieces practically fused to the engine surface.

I think you guys may be talking about those small 3 inch scotch brite discs, and yes those are way way too agressive, the one I'm using is flexible, barely gets anything off at all.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

The best thing is still a good gasket scraper. It may take longer, but properly handled, it wont damage the gasket surface, even on aluminum. The head gasket surfaces are the most critical in the engine, and must be perfectly flat.

l_dis_travlr

For cleaning, spray on brake cleaner is really good stuff.

vorgath

Yeah should have used brake cleaner, didn't even think about that one. After the first cleanup I put some oil on the surface and that helped remove some more of the gaskets, softened them up.

Oh before I forget, the exhaust gaskets, which are multi piece ones, aluminum looking on one side and cardboard looking on the other side, put those on dry as well ?

Comp788

Yes the exhaust manifolds should be put on dry as well.

vorgath

Are there ANY gaskets one used gasket sealer for, except for intake manifold (replacing the china wall "gaskets" with RTV) and the cooling on the same manifold (used supplied paper gasket with bad bad results)

swerve-driver

I always cleaned the mating surfaces with brake-clean- seemed to work pretty well.
The only place I used any RTV on the oil pan gasket is right in the corners where the gasket comes down from the RMS and meets the block and same for up front in the same area by the TC cover. Just a dab, though.

Best-
S-D

edit- If you use any RTV, make sure it is "good". I think there was some Grey Permatex RTV that was pretty much bomb proof. Others might have more up-to date info on the best RTV, though. Regardless, all surfaces have to be clean.

Numerous types of goo are out there- have a look http://www.permatex.com/products/aut...ket_makers.htm