I've found a lot of posts regarding head gaskets but not quite the info I'm looking for. I've only had my engine apart down to the intake manifold so this will be my first attempt at removing the heads. I'm losing coolant and getting white smoke from the exhaust. Not a lot, but enough to indicate a possible head gasket issue. My questions are:

1. Can the heads be removed and replaced intact or is there some disassembly/reassembly required? My heads are aluminum Trick Flow.

2. Do I use any type of sealer on the gasket or do they go on dry?

3. Does anyone have a picture of the torque pattern? Inside out/outside in?

Thanks,
Steve

 

Obviously you have to remove the intake, but you should also remove the pushrods before removing the head. Loosening the rockers enough to rotate them slightly will let you pull the pushrods out. I'm not sure how much it matters, but I was always told to keep them in the right order, so they get put back exactly how they were taken out.

Goes on dry. Get both the heads and the block super clean (carb cleaner and a rag after scraping off all the old gasket and gunk with a razer blade) before putting them on.

Buy yourself a haynes and chilton manual. That'll cover pretty much everything about your car, and the torque pattern should be included somewhere in there.

That being said, I'm sure someone here who has one can look it up (I don't yet )

 

I'm just curious. Does anyone own a service manual anymore?

 

Since nobody thought to say so....... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE HEADS RESURFACED BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING THEM PUT BACK ON THE ENGINE. THEY ARE ALUMINUM HEADS AND ALOT MORE PRONE TO WARPING!!!! COULD BE CAUSING YOUR LEAK!

 

A service manual would tell you to check the heads for warpage, not to automatically have them milled.

 

Its a given to have any head resurfaced when removing for a possible blown head gasket. Any good certified mechanic (myself) with their wits about them knows not to go through the trouble of putting them on just to take back off a 1000 miles later. Especially a high performance engine which i assume this is! Not here to have a pissing match just stating what i know.

 

The world owns it.

Go to this link https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2hk...d6TjBsMGs/edit

 

I do! Unfortunately, its in Alabama and I'm in Texas for 2 more months. So that being of no help to you, a Chiltons or Haynes should tell you everything you need to know. I'm not sure about keeping the pushrods in order but make sure that you roll them on a level surface checking for any bends and check the ends to make sure they are not too badly worn.

 

Ok. Lets agree to disagree.

 

Yes id keep in order. They all have their own wear pattern.

 

Good idea---also have them pressure checked---your leak could be from a crack and not a head gasket---especially on aluminum heads..

 

Restricted access, what is that link, and why is it restricted?

 

The original service manual for your car is a wealth of information and well worth the price.