Before I put in my new motor I need change my head gaskets on this motor to give me a little more life untill my 383 is ready... I was wondering if there is something visually that I can look for to establish wether or not the rings are ok ???

also how long of a job do you think this would take on a 91 tpi??

------------------
Hecubus
http://www.tweak3d.net/temp/z28.jpg

 

There's really nothing to see as far as the rings are concerned, you can see the ring groove at the top of each bore...but nothing I'd do to it anyways until you pull the block.

You can clean and shine up the tops of the pistons, same with the heads and valves while it's apart...if you do take the heads apart, put everything back in the same holes/combos.

Also, keep track of where each pushrod went, and reinstall it in the same place as well.

I'd say to change headgaskets, you'll be looking at 12 hours work for both of them...and a sore back to boot

 

if you kick your *** and work like a mother.. then it'll take about 2 days!! remember all that tpi and air crap!!!!!

------------------
89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

 

Thanks mike I didnt think that there was and visual indication but I do ahve one more qustion for you guys

When I'm getting the rest of the gasket material off the block what is the best method that you've used to help keep most of the junk off the pistons and stuff??

I would asume that stufing some rags or something would do it

what you think??

 

Yet another reason TBI rocks! Easier to take apart

------------------
88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
SIX-speed
open 3.73's
2 1/4 stock catback
I love pissing those LS1's off
My Formula

All your base are belong to us.

 

I just did this on my friend's 2.8 that we're swapping into his car (in exchange for his blown up 2.8).

We used a combination of gasket scrapers and woodworking chisels to get the old gasket stuff off. We covered the center of the motor (lifter valley) with a rag, and scraped away. Then, we blew all the pieces of gasket out of the coolant jacket holes (around the pistons) and the pistons with compressed air. The head bolts on the 2.8 go thru the coolant jackets, so when we blew them out with compressed air, it cleaned out the head bolt holes too.

If you re-use your head bolts, make sure they're all clean, and that they thread into the block easily! We should've replaced the head bolts, but my friend's on a tight budget, and some 2.8'ers said they re-used their head bolts with no problems. We cleaned all the bolts, and checked them all in one "good" hole in the block. We found 4 bolts with messed up threads- we probably would've stripped the holes if we tried tightening them down.

------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Like Tom, I stuff rags in the holes, but I also stuff them in the piston holes too.

There's a lot a gasket scrapers on the market, hand ones, and also drill attachments...there's also some spray goo that dissolves the material and makes it peel off much easier.

Main thing is to try and keep it clean, get rid of ALL the gasket material, and degrease the deck and heads, intake..before you install them.

 

I use a Roloc disc on a die grinder. It turns the gasket into dust, which is easier to get rid of than chunks of gasket. If you are really particular, leave the coolant in the block, then after you're finished drain it, and the oil, and you will get most of it out. THen after running it, flush the cooling system.



------------------
Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305 with 200,000 original miles!
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350 (ZZ430)
using primarily GMPP parts.
Short block sitting on a stand.

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

ASE Certified Master Tech

 

well thanks guys for all you info I've always just used my "3m" wheel/w a die grinder to remove any gasket material as well
looks like i've got a busy weekend ahead of me then or that is if it dosnt rain again!!

thanks again

any more tips that you want to throw my way I'll be glad to hear them ... like if you think that I shoud do any thing eles while I have all of this apart... I think that I'm going to put in a new timing chain as well
thanks

[This message has been edited by Hecubus (edited March 07, 2001).]