Sunday 5 June 2011

What do I need to change a head gasket?

Hello everyone, I am going to be changing the head gaskets in my 98 Ford Crown Victoria 4.6L V-8. Besides all the tools I%26#039;ll need and of course the head gasket, what parts and supplies will I need to get the job done without having to leave the house to grab a forgotten part. Also what should I take advantage of while I have the engine apart as in like replacing other parts or beefing up anything or any other type of preventative maintenance.|||You should have a torque wrench and a manual to tell you what the torque sequence and torque specifications are for torquing the head down. Also some manufacturers recommend replacing the head bolts if their torque to yield bolts. A flat edge should be used to check for warpage. Other stuff to consider replacing when doing the job is the valve cover gaskets, thermostat, spark plugs, sparkplug wires,carb.gasket or fuel injector o-rings. As far as using Per-ma Tex I%26#039;d check to make sure that%26#039;s advised because I can%26#039;t say I remember using any silicone on the heat gasket itself, however some do call for using sealant on the head bolts if they happen to pass through any coolant passages. Good luck and hope this helps.|||Changing Head Gaskets is not real difficult, just time consuming. You have to remove the air filter housing, pull the spark plug wires and remove any parts that hang over the heads.


Tools required would be:


Socket set, with socket wrench and extension.


Torque wrench to tighten the head bolts after changing the gaskets...proper torque is Essential !!


Diagram showing bolt tightening order.


Gasket sealer to hold gasket in place before re-tightening.


Since your heads are off, resurfacing them to flat is necessary. Take to a Shop for this ($100.00+-).


Wouldn%26#039;t hurt to clean the valve adjusters, re-gap them and check for can shaft wear.


Maybe even have the valves re-surfaced at the shop as well ($100.00+-) since they%26#039;re already off.


Takes about 2-3 hours to remove, and a good 3 hours to reassemble, clean engine area and check the other components like wiring harnesses and alternator tension.


Then, treat yourself to an In %26#039;n Out Burger.....job well done !!!!|||have a tube of permatex no. 2 gasket sealer to put on the flat surface of the block AND the bottom surface of the gasket so that when seated, that part will form a good seal.





You are now going to have to put the permatex no. 2 gasket sealer on the TOP of the gasket and the bottom of the head so there is a good seal there.





If you have all the tools then it%26#039;s really a matter of doing the steps in the right order.

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