head g.. help

[Euan]

am gonna do ma head gasket at the weekend (a big thing for me) and just wonderin if anyone has sum good advice.

was readin the haynes and it says u need to disconnect exhaust front pipe etc is all this totally necassary. also what are rocker arms/thrust pads and hydraulic lifters. i dont wanna fuck anythin up, but the only way am gonna learn is to do it maself!!!!

[_JH_]

have you got a torque wrench?

[mark_GSi]

yes mate u will need 2 undo the manifold, u will need a torque wrench 2, best 2 get a decent gasket, one with the little metal rings round d pistons

[Euan]

got a socket wrench not a torque..

bought a vauxhall gasket. i dont have the camshaft gasket do i need to get?

[ade]

you need a torque wrench to set bolts in the head properly. You may also need to get head skimmed

Sure you need other stuff to set up pistons but could be fibbing here.

PM the big boys (CP etc) ref this - could do with a guide and pics

Ade

[_JH_]

i dont wanna fcuk anythin up, but the only way am gonna learn is to do it maself!!!!

i take it you have a haynes manual then? if you read through the sections regarding changin a head gasket before doin it/asking any more questions, and it will tell you what you need.

you MUST have a torque wrench. you should use new head bolts (although someone is bound to say "i used the old bolts and they were fine blah blah") which could well be true but for the sake of 10-15quid compared to things going wrong its worth getting them.

and if you havent got a torque wrench, dont buy a halfords one or one off ebay etc as the springs used in budget torque wrenchs are not the same quality as snap-on etc and will become very inaccurate in the long run, ask around mates/family etc and see if any mechanics you know can borrow a torque wrench from work and help you tighten the head bolts.

if its an ohc get a new timing belt while your at it.

[Stuart]

halfords torque wrenches are great.

ive got a torque wrench form screw fix, ?18 inc delivery (i think) and its pretty damn accurate.

its only on low settings that most are unreliable.

[Euan]

i've read haynes and understand it until the stages that say :


remove rocker arms,thrust pads and hydroulic valve lifters

also will i need to buy a camshaft gasket?

[mikeoxford]

ive got pics from having my engine apart if u want em............

[whitey]

You can buy whole packs of gaskets! U had mite aswell do all of the ones you can whilst you there!

The packs are reletively cheap!

[techie]

The cam box itself doesnt have a gasket between itself and the head. You need sealer. The genuine green vaux stuff is by far the best. Dont use black silicone as it can block oilways.
You will probably need to squeeze out the oil from the hydraulic lifters, use a vice for this, as the OHC engine can be difficult to start if the lifters jack themselves all the way out when released.

[Euan]

mike that would be good

my e-mail is euanmac_uk@yahoo.co.uk

i'm sure of everythin apart from takin out the lifters and rocker arms as i dont know what these are (and where)

[mikeoxford]

The genuine green vaux stuff is by far the best.

and for the same price as halfords stuff it does the job four times i found, whereas with halfords you struggle to do it once!!!!! :lol:

[mikeoxford]

what did alarm me on the GM instructions it says not for resale to the public!!!! and all the health warnings sh!t me up!!!!