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Any decent write ups of the procedure to change a head gasket on a SBC?

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urbex

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I have a friend that was recently thrust into the world of fixing her own stuff due to unforeseen circumstances, and is now completely into doing all her own work, with just a touch of having something to prove to others :P She's been through a bunch of regular maintenance stuff, and not too long ago got to see what's involved in rebuilding a transmission. I handed her a copy of the ATSG manual, and an hour later she was digging into it. We had to go through that TH350 a few times until it was right, but it was a heck of a learning experience.

Now, she's got a K5 with a blown head gasket. I've lost count of the number of head gaskets I've replaced over the years finding the limits of stock parts and high boost levels, lol, and I can easily walk her through it damn near blindfolded, but she's looking at it from the "what do I do if you're not here?" stand point, which I completely understand, and prefers to have written instructions. That said, I will be available to lend a hand when needed, and to step in if she's about to do something that's going to cause major headaches later.

I have access to the Mitchell On Demand system, and it helps, but is obviously geared towards those with some experience already. She doesn't have home internet, and cell phone reception is real spotty where we live, so YouTube and other videos is often not an option. Other than the Chiltons/Haynes manuals, are there any decent web pages with step by step text and photos for this kind of stuff geared towards the beginning DIY'er?
 
Alldata is pretty good, never used it on older cars.

I’d think the solution would be to run down to the nearest Golden Arches and download a video from YT for later viewing offline.
 
See if the local library has a chilton or haynes manual, the old ones. They have a rebuild section
 
Ladies are few on this site and very welcomed. Not to many I have know like to turn wrenches, get grease under their nails or mess up there hair.
 
rampage said:
Which is why he’s hoarding. :deal: :thumb:
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Not quite, lol. Though somewhat ironically, she was covered in grease and oil the day I met her, and that may have been part of the attraction :D

She's just not one much for spending a lot of time online. Pretty much just gets on to look up repair stuff, and that's it.
 
urbex said:
Not quite, lol. Though somewhat ironically, she was covered in grease and oil the day I met her, and that may have been part of the attraction :D

She's just not one much for spending a lot of time online. Pretty much just gets on to look up repair stuff, and that's it.
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So she’s smarter than the rest of us
 
I used to spend stupid amounts of time on the Shelby Dodge and Volvo forums, and Pirate back in the days when there was legit content..now it just seems like a bunch of wankers that get off on asking if it's Tuesday and telling people to f-ing search!!! :rotfl: Then I rediscovered squarebodys, and find myself spending all my time under the hood or chassis of that thing, lol.
 
I like to think that spending too much time on here for $25 a year..........PRICELESS!

Besides, after 5:00 pm what else am I going to do?
 
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You can download the service/electrical (and parts) manuals in my signature link. Not quite as nice as sitting on the couch reading them, but free.

I'd certainly recommend getting one near the vintage she is working on obviously, and later on GM manuals might just say "leaking head gasket-order crate engine and replace".
 
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