Hey everybody. Well tonight I hit the end of the first part (and easiest part) of my head swap on my GTA. I have all the parts off the engine spare the water pump and balancer. All the parts and wires are labeled. The engine sitting in the engine bay naked as a short block gets, masking tape over the bores and shop towels laid out over the entire block. And I am about to start putting new parts on the car.

The things I am going to do:

1: acid clean all the hardware
2: run a tap down all the bolt holes in the block with a vac attached to clean them out
3: clean the cylinder decks to prep for the new head gaskets

After that parts will start to go on. And after the reassembly provided everything goes well I will run an engine cleaner and change the oil within the first 20 minutes of running.

None of the parts im putting on the car are brand new. Nothing will need to be broken in.

Now I really don't want to screw this up. So any advise yalls can give me would be amazing.

 

Don't forget to put sealant on the head bolts. Take your time and enjoy.

 

It's a piece of cake, really. Most annoying part is going through and setting valve lash, other than that it's pretty straightforward.

Make sure your heads have the right plugs or no water jacket plugs in them for whatever water temp sensors you're going to use. I had my heads on and off a couple of times due to other issues and I kept accidentally swapping around the one head that had my water temp sensor in it and I kept having to extend the wire to it across the engine bay then having snip it and shorten it again. If you're doing it under a stock setup, you'll probably need both of those plugs out since I think one is a fan switch and one is for the gauge. Just make sure you have taht dealt with.

Other than that... maybe throw a wire brush around the holes where you'll be putting your grounds in the back of the heads. Be sure to use sealant on the head bolt threads.

Hardest part is leaning over a fender and lowering 50 lb iron heads onto the deck, but if you're a big guy you wont even have much trouble with that.

Just use sealant on the bolts, torque the headbolts in the proper order, do it in stages. You get the idea.

 

makes me want to get start on my project. Been thinking about doing up a short block with a supercharger. From scratch, in the living room ha! I think building it up with a spanking new block would be in order for the build -im planning. Carb of coarse. I like the TPI but carb for old school 74' TA.

BTW when you mentioned sealant on headbolts. where would the sealant go exactly.

 

I run it 3/4 the length of the threads.

Changing the oil after 20 minutes will not be necessary on just a head swap.

 

If you were me, you'd put a new timing chain and gear set in it now.

 

Chain would be a good idea.

 

Haha, yeah I was thinking about the timing chain.

And when you all say "Sealant" you talking Threadlocker Blue? For some reason that is what I remembered and its what I bought.

 

A thread sealant like "thread sealant with Teflon" is what I use.

 

We use pipe sealant with teflon we buy at Lowes. Comes in a can with brush. Do your intake bolts to so you dont get oil mist on your intake.

 

Sealant and threadlocker are different things.

 

Find #1 TDC before you put the heads on. It is easiest then

Do not put threadlocker on any headbolts. New bolts usually come with the sealer already on them (white or blue). Old bolts need it applied before installation

Be absolutely sure you clean the coolant/oil out of the headbolt holes before you put the bolts in. If there is some left in there, the seal on the bolt will prevent the fluid from seeping up the threads and the pressure can crack the block

Be generous with the RTV on the front/rear chinawalls and let it setup for about 10 mins before setting the intake on. Run the RTV up about 1/4" over the intake gaskets to insure a good seal

Install the dist and get a rough time before you assemble the upper intake pieces

Set the valves with the covers off and no accessories installed. You will be on battery power so run time will be <15 min on a good full charge

Have fun!

 

hell yeah, all the babes be jocking. haha

 

all the bitches jock the 3rd gens. its a fact. most 3rd gen owners are married, but those who arnt, herpes here i come. jk

 

Married lol