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It was bound to happen: head gasket time
- Thread starter ccarley
- Start date
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Oh man, you're telling me! I hope they didn't touch anything in the lower end!
Yeah, you didn't whack enough off the heads to worry about. I would do the adjustable regulator now.
Martin
Martin
wasted wages
1 ton status
What type of head gasket did you use ??
composite or stamped metal type ?
Brand ?
composite or stamped metal type ?
Brand ?
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Looks good to have it back together and correct. Hopefully the po didn't mess with anything else under the heads. Wonder what they were thinking with that weirdness. Fingers crossed for ya to fire it up and all is good.
I am curious about the gasket as well. I highly doubt it needed any sealant, unless you were running some cheap gasket set.
Martin
Martin
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
He said fel pro metal faced gasket. So I'm guessing it wasn't the duel material gasket that has the silicon seals in place already. Sounds like just a standard gasket set was used either way.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Yeah it was a standard Fel-Pro kit, definitely no silicone in the gasket at all, but there are metal rings around the cylinder openings.
As far as the adjustable regulator, looks like it will be easy enough to do one of these days. Need more $$$ for that though. There's already a hole in the throttle body for the adjustment screw...
Hopefully it will be all back together next weekend
As far as the adjustable regulator, looks like it will be easy enough to do one of these days. Need more $$$ for that though. There's already a hole in the throttle body for the adjustment screw...
Hopefully it will be all back together next weekend
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Finally got it all back together this afternoon. Changed oil, filled cooling system, bypassed the heater core.
Fired it up and it sounded terrible; black smoke, white smoke, and barely idling. Forgot the charcoal canister vacuum line, so hooked that up.
After a while it started running really really smooth. It's idling smoother than it was before. No leaks! But, there's still a lot of white coming out of the tailpipe. Probably from sitting for 3 weeks and basically pumping water through the exhaust when it was last shut down.
I still need to time it, as it cranks slow (I hope it's just a timing issue). Also, the D/S exhaust manifold is leaking like crazy
even with a new donut gasket there, it must not be lined up enough just that much. With the way I feel right now, I'm willing to take it to a muffler shop or something after I time it. I don't even feel like timing it right now. Oh yeah, and the top of the injector pod is leaking fuel slightly; hopefully torquing those screws down a tad more will fix that.
Well, at least it runs? My neighbor is surprised at how smooth it idles. Oh yeah, throttle response is much more impressive than it was before!
Fired it up and it sounded terrible; black smoke, white smoke, and barely idling. Forgot the charcoal canister vacuum line, so hooked that up.
After a while it started running really really smooth. It's idling smoother than it was before. No leaks! But, there's still a lot of white coming out of the tailpipe. Probably from sitting for 3 weeks and basically pumping water through the exhaust when it was last shut down.
I still need to time it, as it cranks slow (I hope it's just a timing issue). Also, the D/S exhaust manifold is leaking like crazy
even with a new donut gasket there, it must not be lined up enough just that much. With the way I feel right now, I'm willing to take it to a muffler shop or something after I time it. I don't even feel like timing it right now. Oh yeah, and the top of the injector pod is leaking fuel slightly; hopefully torquing those screws down a tad more will fix that. Well, at least it runs? My neighbor is surprised at how smooth it idles. Oh yeah, throttle response is much more impressive than it was before!
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Good it's running ok. Slow crank means advanced timing to much. It's popping before top dead center most likely and slowing it down. Or just a slightly dead battery. Take it through a few hot cold cycles and hopefully no problems. I would run it a little and change the fluids again just to Make sure it is clean. I ran water in mine the first time after doing the head gaskets to make sure I wasn't wasting money dropping the fluid after I ran it a little bit and make sure it wasn't going to leak. It will white smoke a little til you burn what fell into the small spots you couldn't clean up. Should have cleared up not too long after startup though. Hopefully the head gasket sealed correct. Fix that regulator. That might make it Smoke A bit with the extra fuel dropping into the intake as well. Also it will smoke a little if the valves aren't adjusted to fully close when the cam and Lifter open and close them. I did that the first time i adjusted valves. Put them too tight and the valve wouldnt close on a couple cylanders. As it will get blow by on that valve and not Burn. Does it smell like raw fuel?
ccarley
1/2 ton status
I kept thinking yesterday that the timing was off, causing the slow cranking. Then I woke up early this morning, thinking that I don't recall tightening the nut on the battery negative to the block... that might do it.
I couldn't smell the exhaust too much yesterday, but the smoke was very very white. I like your idea of running water first... darn it I'll remember that for next time! I am hoping that the exhaust, especially at the angle it sits at, was pretty full of water and it's still burning it off. I adjusted all the valves to 0 plus 1/2 turn (minimum as listed in my manual), so hopefully all of the valves are closing!
I'll be tightening those torx screws on the injector pod, I was just afraid of cracking that top piece. That, then timing, and probably to the exhaust shop... of course, we are expecting rain tonight and tomorrow though. Looks like another week of carpooling.
Clay
I couldn't smell the exhaust too much yesterday, but the smoke was very very white. I like your idea of running water first... darn it I'll remember that for next time! I am hoping that the exhaust, especially at the angle it sits at, was pretty full of water and it's still burning it off. I adjusted all the valves to 0 plus 1/2 turn (minimum as listed in my manual), so hopefully all of the valves are closing!
I'll be tightening those torx screws on the injector pod, I was just afraid of cracking that top piece. That, then timing, and probably to the exhaust shop... of course, we are expecting rain tonight and tomorrow though. Looks like another week of carpooling.
Clay
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Yeah hopefully it will burn itself out. You still got some lose ends and then take er for a well earned trip.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Oh man decisions.
I already have a quote in hand from several months ago to re-do the exhaust. New cat, Magnaflow, and either single or dual outlet with stainless tips. If I'm heading to the muffler shop... not that I have the money to do it right now, but Xmas bonus is coming soon. And I need a new cat before next year when I have to smog it again.
I guess I have a couple of days to think about it I suppose. But if I do it, I'll want to get it done Saturday so I don't have to take time off work.
Clay
I already have a quote in hand from several months ago to re-do the exhaust. New cat, Magnaflow, and either single or dual outlet with stainless tips. If I'm heading to the muffler shop... not that I have the money to do it right now, but Xmas bonus is coming soon. And I need a new cat before next year when I have to smog it again.
I guess I have a couple of days to think about it I suppose. But if I do it, I'll want to get it done Saturday so I don't have to take time off work.
Clay
ekajkrats
1/2 ton status
Where are you looking at getting the exhaust work done? My friend with an 84 k5 is in need of a new cat...we are thinking about doing the work ourselves, since he already has upgraded exhaust because the quote for a place here in Novato was too much.
-jacob
-jacob
ccarley
1/2 ton status
I was going to call McLea's in Cotati; I've taken stuff there before and they have treated me well.
As for the price... a new cat in CA is not cheap
Clay
As for the price... a new cat in CA is not cheap
Clay
ekajkrats
1/2 ton status
Yeah, so true. Rockauto seemed to have the best price.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Years ago I attempted to order a cat online; the order went through, however I got a call about a week later. The vendor who was out of state told me that they were unable to ship it to CA (read: SMOG natzis won't let you fix it yourself)
If Rockauto can get it to you that would be pretty darn awesome. Please let me know if it works
(read: SMOG natzis won't let you fix it yourself)If Rockauto can get it to you that would be pretty darn awesome. Please let me know if it works
ekajkrats
1/2 ton status
Interesting...hadn't thought about that. I need to get some measurements tomorrow, and hopefully can place the order before the weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
I got an outrageous quote this evening from McLea's, but they haven't looked at it yet. Basically, twice what the quote was a year or so ago! I'm headed there Saturday to fix the leak at the manifold, and then they can really see what it will take to get me sorted out.
I was right in remembering that I forgot to tighten the nut on the block where the battery ground attaches. I tightened that, and snugged up the injector pod screws more, and fired it up tonight. Man oh man is that idle smooth. With the exception of the exhaust leak, it sure sounds nice right now!
Clay
I was right in remembering that I forgot to tighten the nut on the block where the battery ground attaches. I tightened that, and snugged up the injector pod screws more, and fired it up tonight. Man oh man is that idle smooth. With the exception of the exhaust leak, it sure sounds nice right now!
Clay
wasted wages
1 ton status
Couldn't you buy the cat online and ship to a ck5 member that lives outside of Cali, and then have them ship it to you??? 
