86 Pace Car head gasket replacement
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Shawnee KS
86 Pace Car head gasket replacement
I am replacing the head gaskets on my 86 Pace Car and I am planning on replacing all the wear parts while its disassembled. I was planning on new injectors until I realized the Bosch wants about $400 for the set. Will refurbished (about $100) be any better than me rebuilding the OEM injectors?
Also, when I pulled the intake, there was restrictor plates on the water jackets, apparently to restrict the water flow. (?). Anyway, they got damaged while I was scraping the surface where the gasket was. Does a new gasket come with new plates and if not, are they necessary?
Also, when I pulled the intake, there was restrictor plates on the water jackets, apparently to restrict the water flow. (?). Anyway, they got damaged while I was scraping the surface where the gasket was. Does a new gasket come with new plates and if not, are they necessary?
Last edited by Ffranzwa; Dec 15, 2018 at 09:33 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Where is the $100 set coming from? If it is a reputable place, sure. If it isn't, well..... As to your old injectors. If they are Multecs, put them with the scraped gasket material. The Bosch ones are going to be ethanol resistant or you will have to chain yourself to places selling pure gas which is an unnecessary PITA.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 338
Likes: 49
From: Quincy,Illinois
I have used several sets of reman Bosch 3's from FIC and they work flawlessly. Another vote to throw the Multecs in the trash. The owner at FIC,Jon, I think, is very helpful.
I think they might be having a sale now, I recently got an email from them.
I think they might be having a sale now, I recently got an email from them.
Last edited by IBVETN2; Dec 20, 2018 at 11:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
More important, IMO is that he runs an honest shop. Can his staff do something behind his back? Sure. Possible but I haven't seen it yet. I have sent him tested sets for cleaning. His "before" numbers matched what I had tested at a flow bench and his "after" numbers were tested. Did that a couple times. Reasonably confident he didn't fudge his numbers to show he had done work he didn't. I contacted him about an injector and he asked if I was running some high pressure that might have caused a filter to collapse and lousy "before" number for that one injector. So he did do testing. I tested after he did the work and it was about what he had for "after" numbers.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
another 
for a set of bosch3's from FIC (multi-X repeat customer). a set of "rebuilds" with gaskets will set you back around 2-bills. as for the coolant flow restrictors used with aluminum heads, on my 90, I opted to go without restrictors. FWIW, I used a manifold gasket set from an iron head L98. most aluminum head replacement gaskets have built-in restrictors - iron head versions have open ports, front/rear. seems there are a few folks around here that go that route, and really haven't heard of anyone having issues. it seems that the restricted coolant flow, may contribute to head gasket failures, especially around the #7 and #8 cylinders. I think I have an understanding of why the restrictors are there, but not 100% proof-positive. if there was a benefit, IMO, the bad outweights the good. on my 90, I kept the "steam" tube intact, and other than the gasket(s), everything remained factory configured. just the term "steam tube" used on an engine didn't give me a warm-fuzzy. anyway, I drove the car several years, around 10K miles, and did not experience any abnormal cooling or temperature related issues. as far as I could tell, everything was normal. my 2-cents - if I were to do it again, i'd again opt for no-restrictors. good luck on the repairs! 
for a set of bosch3's from FIC (multi-X repeat customer). a set of "rebuilds" with gaskets will set you back around 2-bills. as for the coolant flow restrictors used with aluminum heads, on my 90, I opted to go without restrictors. FWIW, I used a manifold gasket set from an iron head L98. most aluminum head replacement gaskets have built-in restrictors - iron head versions have open ports, front/rear. seems there are a few folks around here that go that route, and really haven't heard of anyone having issues. it seems that the restricted coolant flow, may contribute to head gasket failures, especially around the #7 and #8 cylinders. I think I have an understanding of why the restrictors are there, but not 100% proof-positive. if there was a benefit, IMO, the bad outweights the good. on my 90, I kept the "steam" tube intact, and other than the gasket(s), everything remained factory configured. just the term "steam tube" used on an engine didn't give me a warm-fuzzy. anyway, I drove the car several years, around 10K miles, and did not experience any abnormal cooling or temperature related issues. as far as I could tell, everything was normal. my 2-cents - if I were to do it again, i'd again opt for no-restrictors. good luck on the repairs!
Last edited by Joe C; Dec 21, 2018 at 03:26 AM.
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