head gasket replacement stuff questions

fiveohpatrol · 04-12-2001, 05:47 PM

i'm gonna be replacing my head gaskets in a couple weeks and im gonna start piecing together the parts i'll need, already got the head and intake gaskets and black RTV, im gonna have a shop mill them flat and replace valve guides, then a friend of mine is gonna do some home-port work on them as well as gasket match the lower intake to heads, is it necessary to get a set of new head bolts? summit has ARP 289-302 standard hex for $37.95. are these the ones i should get if i do need them? also is there anything i'm leaving out? thanks everyone

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88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, Explorer intake, pulleys, Crane 1.7's, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after rocker and intake install

Capri306 · 04-13-2001, 12:46 AM

You might wanna put in a new thermostat while you're at it. The head bolts are supposedly reuseable, but to be on the safe side, I'd go with ARPs. That's what I'm going to use when I install the AFR heads I'm getting this summer. For only $38, you can't go wrong. Oh, be sure to use Loctite's PST (Pipe Thread Sealant) on the bolts that go into the water jacket!!! Good luck.

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Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch

exgmguy · 04-13-2001, 05:31 AM

Don't forget to tap the head bolt holes too. Also change your oil BEFORE you start it back up.

NO SLO PK · 04-13-2001, 04:17 PM

YES, definitely buy new bolts. I had to replace new head gaskets because the stock bolts stretched. As said above, use thread sealer on the lower bolts. After you're done torquing the head bolts, I'd go ahead and put another 10 ft. lbs. on the inboard bolts...

------------------
Russ L
'91 LX
Procharger, 3 row intercooler, extrude honed Cobra intake, Mac full Length Headers, 30# inj., 73mm C&L, 75mm tb, E303 cam, 289 rods, ported E7 heads, MSD, T-Rex w/255 lph Walbro, 5 lug conversion, Cobra R wheels, 3.27 gears and Moser Axles.

Mustangbelle306 · 04-13-2001, 04:23 PM

Yessssss do head work!!! I am so stupid because when I blew my head gaskets, I did not even have the heads inspected and my car has NEVER run the same. I was working for Ford at the time, and had them replaced in one afternoon for a good deal because at the time it was the only car I had to get back and forth to work in. I wish I had taken the time to have the heads checked out and reworked, maybe my Stang would run a little better now. Good luck with your swap!

------------------
Elisha (Mustangbelle)
1994 GT: Cartech intake,4.10s, full exhaust, and pulleys.
Sold the 1986 LX sedan

http://www.geocities.com/mustangbelle_306
AOL name: GT306Chick

04-12-2001, 05:47 PM	#1
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	head gasket replacement stuff questions i'm gonna be replacing my head gaskets in a couple weeks and im gonna start piecing together the parts i'll need, already got the head and intake gaskets and black RTV, im gonna have a shop mill them flat and replace valve guides, then a friend of mine is gonna do some home-port work on them as well as gasket match the lower intake to heads, is it necessary to get a set of new head bolts? summit has ARP 289-302 standard hex for $37.95. are these the ones i should get if i do need them? also is there anything i'm leaving out? thanks everyone ------------------ 88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, Explorer intake, pulleys, Crane 1.7's, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after rocker and intake install

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04-13-2001, 12:46 AM	#2
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	You might wanna put in a new thermostat while you're at it. The head bolts are supposedly reuseable, but to be on the safe side, I'd go with ARPs. That's what I'm going to use when I install the AFR heads I'm getting this summer. For only $38, you can't go wrong. Oh, be sure to use Loctite's PST (Pipe Thread Sealant) on the bolts that go into the water jacket!!! Good luck. ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch

04-13-2001, 05:31 AM	#3
exgmguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Utica, Michigan Posts: 2,631	Don't forget to tap the head bolt holes too. Also change your oil BEFORE you start it back up.

04-13-2001, 04:17 PM	#4
NO SLO PK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Arcadia, CA, USA Posts: 731	YES, definitely buy new bolts. I had to replace new head gaskets because the stock bolts stretched. As said above, use thread sealer on the lower bolts. After you're done torquing the head bolts, I'd go ahead and put another 10 ft. lbs. on the inboard bolts... ------------------ Russ L '91 LX Procharger, 3 row intercooler, extrude honed Cobra intake, Mac full Length Headers, 30# inj., 73mm C&L, 75mm tb, E303 cam, 289 rods, ported E7 heads, MSD, T-Rex w/255 lph Walbro, 5 lug conversion, Cobra R wheels, 3.27 gears and Moser Axles.

04-13-2001, 04:23 PM	#5
Mustangbelle306 Yay for Chickys Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,532	Yessssss do head work!!! I am so stupid because when I blew my head gaskets, I did not even have the heads inspected and my car has NEVER run the same. I was working for Ford at the time, and had them replaced in one afternoon for a good deal because at the time it was the only car I had to get back and forth to work in. I wish I had taken the time to have the heads checked out and reworked, maybe my Stang would run a little better now. Good luck with your swap! ------------------ Elisha (Mustangbelle) 1994 GT: Cartech intake,4.10s, full exhaust, and pulleys. Sold the 1986 LX sedan http://www.geocities.com/mustangbelle_306 AOL name: GT306Chick