89S 350 TBI Head Gasket Replacement Project

[89Suburban]

89S 350 TBI Cracked Head Replacement Project

Ordered the head gasket set today.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=&item=260776955831&view=all&tid=767573852016

 

[animal]

 

[Swims350]

not a bad price but I got a complete gasket set from northern for around that price for my 88 tbi.

I'll see if I can find the link.

Well northern doesn't have them anymore, it was a mr. gasket 7103 kit and was $30.99 for the set and like 10 shipping. Summit wants like $79 for the kit only.

 

[89Suburban]

Yeah, this I just grabbed this after looking around a little online.

Somebody told me that I should check the head bolt torques after a few months of running the motor, anybody ever hear that?

 

[89Suburban]

Hey buddy.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Yeah, this I just grabbed this after looking around a little online.

Somebody told me that I should check the head bolt torques after a few months of running the motor, anybody ever hear that?

The pros and racers do that but I didn't do it on my build. Just oil the threads on your head bolts with a light oil before torquing them.

 

[89Suburban]

The pros and racers do that but I didn't do it on my build. Just oil the threads on your head bolts with a light oil before torquing them.

Did you put new head bolts or use the old ones? Can I do this with the exhaust manifolds still bolted to the Y-pipe? Will they swing out of the way far enough? Please tell me yes.

 

[animal]

Did you put new head bolts or use the old ones? Can I do this with the exhaust manifolds still bolted to the Y-pipe? Will they swing out of the way far enough? Please tell me yes.

OK. Yes. Ya fell better? I don't know about "swinging" out of the way but if you unbolt both sides then they should drop far enough to allow easy access. Just make sure they "catch" on something or tie them off so they don't drop far enough to cause problems somewhere else in the exaust.

 

[89Suburban]

OK. Yes. Ya fell better? I don't know about "swinging" out of the way but if you unbolt both sides then they should drop far enough to allow easy access. Just make sure they "catch" on something or tie them off so they don't drop far enough to cause problems somewhere else in the exaust.

 

[Swims350]

I reuse head bolts, yea guys say you aint supposed to but I have done it and never had a problem. I reused em on my 88 on dad's 84 and on his old 86, what you can do is throw on the old valve cover gaskets and throw them back on, start it and run it to get it warm, then remove em and check the head bolt torque and then use the new ones.

My old man says after 500 miles you do it. You can throw in a couple of manifold bolts and run it then unbolt and check the torque as I mentioned above, or just run it with no manifolds, it'll be loud lol like open headers. if not then torque em and be done with em.

Alot of the times ppl don't and the books don't say exactly what or multiple steps but do it in steps. Like say torque em to 20 in sequence, then go to 40, then go to 60, then finaly torque, I forget, think its like 65 or 75 or something.

 

[towman]

Yeah, this I just grabbed this after looking around a little online.

Somebody told me that I should check the head bolt torques after a few months of running the motor, anybody ever hear that?

only checked the torque on one being on my olds 442 and wouldn;t you know that i had a head gasket problemn after about 10 thousand miles, redid them and have been fine for over thirty thousand now

 

[Old77]

so is this project done yet?

 

[89Suburban]

so is this project done yet?

Just starting.

Gathering what I will need.

Ordered the manifold stretcher tools, the head gasket kit, got the steering pump pulley tool. Got a box to punch holes in and mark for the pushrods.

 

[Old77]

If this ain't done by the time I get back in town on Sunday night I'm gonna have to..........keep giving you grief

 

[89Suburban]

Haha. Ok "Nancy".