H/C garage install progress
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
I can see you didn't use the shop-vac on the water pump ports before you pulled those heads. Would have saved alot of cleanup. Air into the bolt holes is not enough. You need to be **** cleaning out the holes. I used repeated tubes of tightly rolled paper towel, and even on the holes that had NO water, there was moist scum and particles of gunk in there to remove. That stuff doesn't compress when you go to torque the new headbolts, so get it out.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Anything that is not compressible will throw off the tightening of the head bolts. I used a straw from a drink bottle that just barely fits in the bolt holes on the end of my shop vac to vacuum them out first. Then ran the head cleaning bolt through each hole until it comes out clean. Then a paper towel into each hole. And finally one last pass with the shop vac / straw combination.
I'm concerned about using grease on the cleaning bolt because it wouldn't vacuum up nor would a paper towel soak it up. And the grease would not compress and therefore cause incorrect torqueing/tightening.
I'm concerned about using grease on the cleaning bolt because it wouldn't vacuum up nor would a paper towel soak it up. And the grease would not compress and therefore cause incorrect torqueing/tightening.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
Anything that is not compressible will throw off the tightening of the head bolts. I used a straw from a drink bottle that just barely fits in the bolt holes on the end of my shop vac to vacuum them out first. Then ran the head cleaning bolt through each hole until it comes out clean. Then a paper towel into each hole. And finally one last pass with the shop vac / straw combination.
I'm concerned about using grease on the cleaning bolt because it wouldn't vacuum up nor would a paper towel soak it up. And the grease would not compress and therefore cause incorrect torqueing/tightening.
I'm concerned about using grease on the cleaning bolt because it wouldn't vacuum up nor would a paper towel soak it up. And the grease would not compress and therefore cause incorrect torqueing/tightening.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Good plan. Roll up small sections of towel into tight tubes long enough to reach the bottom of the bolt holes. I got a long, very thin screwdriver to help get the towel to the bottom, and also twist them in using the threads. It's not worth the risk to NOT do this step right. I also recommend using copper spray on your new MLS head gaskets. Again, cheap insurance.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
Good plan. Roll up small sections of towel into tight tubes long enough to reach the bottom of the bolt holes. I got a long, very thin screwdriver to help get the towel to the bottom, and also twist them in using the threads. It's not worth the risk to NOT do this step right. I also recommend using copper spray on your new MLS head gaskets. Again, cheap insurance.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
I believe everyone recommends MLS (steel) GM gaskets for head jobs, esp with aftermarket heads (higher compression). I don't know if the fel-pro ones are MLS but if not, you might want to make sure the head gaskets are.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
The grease may throw off the initial torque reading, are you using stock head bolts?
Also, look into each hole with a flashlight, it is imperative that they be dry so don't just rely on getting a paper towel into the hole.
Also, look into each hole with a flashlight, it is imperative that they be dry so don't just rely on getting a paper towel into the hole.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
I verified that the felpro gaskets were the same thickness as the gm gaskets, thats what Gunnar at Patriot said I needed.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
I'll triple check each hole for moisture. The airgun did a pretty good job of getting the moisture out, I'll use a flashlight/paper towels to verify they are all dry and clean.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Felpros are about the cheapest gaskets you can buy. Not MLS. GM redesigned theirs a couple of years ago, and though they're fairly thick@ .060 compressed, they're very durable, and almost no cleanup if you pull your heads again.m They don't disintegrate like the cardboard/whatever ones do. Copper gasket spray is cheap and easy to apply, but don't bother if you're using the felpros.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
Felpros are about the cheapest gaskets you can buy. Not MLS. GM redesigned theirs a couple of years ago, and though they're fairly thick@ .060 compressed, they're very durable, and almost no cleanup if you pull your heads again.m They don't disintegrate like the cardboard/whatever ones do. Copper gasket spray is cheap and easy to apply, but don't bother if you're using the felpros.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
The GM MLS gaskets are excellent and forgiving compared to something like a Cometic. Just make sure your surfaces are very clean prior to installing and you will be fine. I thought they were more like 0.054" compressed.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
The part #s vary depending on year of your car. Double check to get correct style. The GM graphites are supposed to be OK, but you only want to do this once.
And Vettenuts..... we went over the compressed thickness of the GM MLS gaskets over at LS1tech, and it still wasn't resolved. The GM spec says .060, and one old hand over at LS1tech swears he mic'd them at between.052-.056, so who knows?
And Vettenuts..... we went over the compressed thickness of the GM MLS gaskets over at LS1tech, and it still wasn't resolved. The GM spec says .060, and one old hand over at LS1tech swears he mic'd them at between.052-.056, so who knows?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Gene's sale
Last edited by vettenuts; Jun 26, 2007 at 06:37 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Chico CA
Ok, back from TX. It's a LOT more humid than CA, nice country though. We attempted to get the pulley off tonight, that was a no go 
. Using a pulley tool that I rented from Autozone we weren't able to pull it off, I think I'm going to need a longer bolt to push on. Does anyone know where I can pick one up without ordering it? I was thinking Home Depot might have one? We have also managed to take a couple of small chunks of metal out of the pulley, will that affect the way it operates? I'll upload a pic once we get it off the car. The cam is STILL not here, I was told Thursday, we'll see...
. Using a pulley tool that I rented from Autozone we weren't able to pull it off, I think I'm going to need a longer bolt to push on. Does anyone know where I can pick one up without ordering it? I was thinking Home Depot might have one? We have also managed to take a couple of small chunks of metal out of the pulley, will that affect the way it operates? I'll upload a pic once we get it off the car. The cam is STILL not here, I was told Thursday, we'll see...