Head Removal Thread

[sptt]

Well, looks like I'm finally going to take the laymen's dive in and tear out my cylinder to replace my headgasket. I've recently had oil pouring out the back center of the block and frying nicely on the outtake pipes creating the illusion, but with the smell, that the bottom of my car is currently on fire while I'm at stop.

I won't have the time to machine the head, just clean it smooth and reinstall it and bolt it down properly with the new gasket set. We'll see how this goes. 2 experts are helping me do this in a 3-4 hour timeframe???

[sptt]

Moved

[long-gone]

You sanded off the old gasket material?! Man, I wouldn't be comfortable doing that, at all.

Your friends didn't advise you against it?

You need to carefully scrape the material off with a razor and maybe a solvent like carb cleaner while taking great care not to gouge the soft aluminum.

I hope it works out for you though, please let us know if the job holds up.

[sptt]

Yes. They did warn me but that's the only hope I had today to get her back on the road for tomorrow. I used lots of PB Blaster and 200 Grit sandpaper. Came out smooth as a baby's bottom and no scratches or warps on the head. Then finished it off with 400 wet sanding. Checked for straightness and warping with true straight edges and was perfect to the eye. Wasn't having a ton of fun doing that, I must admit. A belt sander would have been much easier. She sealed up like pores in pigskin sitting in a mud bath. No oil leaks, coolant leaks, and no oil into the coolant. And car idles soooo much smoooother now. Starts fastest it ever has. Yes, was a little bit of a gamble, but I only had today to go for it. Otherwise, was gonna be off to Carmax.