Blown head gasket - Page 2

**kingnutin** · 07-23-2012, 11:53 AM

Head gasket is the last thing I would look at for a coolant leak, get it pressure tested first.

cwa1104sab · 07-25-2012, 03:35 PM

Here's a question, sorry if it sounds dumb.... When I torque the heads to 44lbs it says to go another 95 degrees. Question is are we looking at a circle with a 360 degree radius, so it's like another 1/4 turn ? That's what I'm thinking and I wanted to start getting everything back together this saturday.

Thanks for the help and confidence guys

much appreciated from this old man...lol

**Stephen** · 07-25-2012, 03:46 PM

yea, its gonna be slightly past a 1/4 turn since a 90 degree angle looks like an L then you just go ever so slightly past that.
I have a torque angle gauge but you cant print off something similar from a website and use that for accuracy if you want.

**kingnutin** · 07-25-2012, 04:36 PM

5 degrees isn't going to make much difference either way, just do your best to get 90 degrees or slightly past.

cwa1104sab · 07-25-2012, 08:00 PM

Guys I can't thank you all enough...Saturday is the day to start it all going back together and remarcably the only thing I'm worried about is the 90 degree turn thing(but you solved that) and also where to put the head bolts since some are longer than others and where to put the ones that are "taller" I'm hoping that answer is in the haynes book I bought. Aslo should I put anything on the bolts ?

**kingnutin** · 07-26-2012, 10:28 AM

Stephen should be able to answer the question about whether or not to coat the threads, I haven't done one of these yet so I'm not sure. But for the different bolt lengths, trust me, it will be obvious once you take the old bolts out.

**Stephen** · 07-26-2012, 01:18 PM

Clean the inside of the head bolt holes out before installing the new head bolts. The book says to chase the threads using a tap, I did not do that. I used a Q-tips and cleaned them out since they were not very dirty or anything.

Apply thread sealant to the threads before putting them in. I used permatex High Temperature Thread Sealant. part# 59214

Get you some PB-Blaster or some good penetrating oil and soak the exhaust studs and bolts good, possibly the night before, or at least give them a few hours to soak.

You can follow the tightening sequence and just mark the bolts as you take them out with the corresponding number. Then take the new head bolts and match them up.

You can use this thread along with your haynes book for assistance
http://www.impalaforums.com/diy-do-i...s-3400sfi.html

(Remember, the picture is the TIGHTENING sequence, so you reverse the order for removal
or this picture-

cwa1104sab · 07-26-2012, 06:44 PM

Got it, thanks !

cwa1104sab · 07-30-2012, 05:29 PM

Going back together nicely with no major mishaps so far, I printed out your steps and as I do them I'm checking everything off as I go. I'm up to putting the plenum on. Actually getting a great deal of satisfaction out of this...

**kingnutin** · 07-31-2012, 01:39 PM

Nothing quite like it is there? I wish more people here would realize just how easy it is...

**Stephen** · 07-31-2012, 06:18 PM

Yep,
Let me know how everything turns out.

cwa1104sab · 08-03-2012, 09:05 AM

Guys I just wanted to publicly thanks everyone who helped me with my heads on my 04 3.4...It's up and running. Without your input, even though I've done them before 30 years ago, I never wouldve tried it. Stephen's walk thru was printed off and followed step by step and at the end it started on the first crank. The oily smell of new heads is almost burned off and I'll be driving it around the next few weeks watching for leaks and checking the gauges.

Again thanks to all who helped, especially Stephen and Kingnutin. My wife is amazed that perfect strangers would take the time to help another stranger do such this job.

Sab

**kingnutin** · 08-03-2012, 11:02 AM

We're just doing what we can to make the world a better place, treat others as you would have them treat you.

07-23-2012, 11:53 AM	#16 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,808 Thanks: 205 Thanked 536 Times in 363 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Head gasket is the last thing I would look at for a coolant leak, get it pressure tested first. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

07-25-2012, 03:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
Stephen Impalaforums.com Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,523 Thanks: 7 Thanked 32 Times in 16 Posts	yea, its gonna be slightly past a 1/4 turn since a 90 degree angle looks like an L then you just go ever so slightly past that. I have a torque angle gauge but you cant print off something similar from a website and use that for accuracy if you want. __________________ Past IOTM Winners http://www.impalaforums.com/iotm-win...m-winners.html

07-25-2012, 04:36 PM	#19 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,808 Thanks: 205 Thanked 536 Times in 363 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	5 degrees isn't going to make much difference either way, just do your best to get 90 degrees or slightly past. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

07-26-2012, 10:28 AM	#21 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,808 Thanks: 205 Thanked 536 Times in 363 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Stephen should be able to answer the question about whether or not to coat the threads, I haven't done one of these yet so I'm not sure. But for the different bolt lengths, trust me, it will be obvious once you take the old bolts out. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

07-26-2012, 01:18 PM	#22 (permalink)
Stephen Impalaforums.com Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,523 Thanks: 7 Thanked 32 Times in 16 Posts	Clean the inside of the head bolt holes out before installing the new head bolts. The book says to chase the threads using a tap, I did not do that. I used a Q-tips and cleaned them out since they were not very dirty or anything. Apply thread sealant to the threads before putting them in. I used permatex High Temperature Thread Sealant. part# 59214 Get you some PB-Blaster or some good penetrating oil and soak the exhaust studs and bolts good, possibly the night before, or at least give them a few hours to soak. You can follow the tightening sequence and just mark the bolts as you take them out with the corresponding number. Then take the new head bolts and match them up. You can use this thread along with your haynes book for assistance http://www.impalaforums.com/diy-do-i...s-3400sfi.html (Remember, the picture is the TIGHTENING sequence, so you reverse the order for removal or this picture- __________________ Past IOTM Winners http://www.impalaforums.com/iotm-win...m-winners.html

07-25-2012, 03:35 PM	#17 (permalink)
cwa1104sab Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here's a question, sorry if it sounds dumb.... When I torque the heads to 44lbs it says to go another 95 degrees. Question is are we looking at a circle with a 360 degree radius, so it's like another 1/4 turn ? That's what I'm thinking and I wanted to start getting everything back together this saturday. Thanks for the help and confidence guys much appreciated from this old man...lol

07-25-2012, 08:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
cwa1104sab Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys I can't thank you all enough...Saturday is the day to start it all going back together and remarcably the only thing I'm worried about is the 90 degree turn thing(but you solved that) and also where to put the head bolts since some are longer than others and where to put the ones that are "taller" I'm hoping that answer is in the haynes book I bought. Aslo should I put anything on the bolts ?

07-26-2012, 06:44 PM	#23 (permalink)
cwa1104sab Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Got it, thanks !

07-30-2012, 05:29 PM	#24 (permalink)
cwa1104sab Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Going back together nicely with no major mishaps so far, I printed out your steps and as I do them I'm checking everything off as I go. I'm up to putting the plenum on. Actually getting a great deal of satisfaction out of this...

07-31-2012, 01:39 PM	#25 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,808 Thanks: 205 Thanked 536 Times in 363 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Nothing quite like it is there? I wish more people here would realize just how easy it is... __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

07-31-2012, 06:18 PM	#26 (permalink)
Stephen Impalaforums.com Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,523 Thanks: 7 Thanked 32 Times in 16 Posts	Yep, Let me know how everything turns out. __________________ Past IOTM Winners http://www.impalaforums.com/iotm-win...m-winners.html

08-03-2012, 09:05 AM	#27 (permalink)
cwa1104sab Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys I just wanted to publicly thanks everyone who helped me with my heads on my 04 3.4...It's up and running. Without your input, even though I've done them before 30 years ago, I never wouldve tried it. Stephen's walk thru was printed off and followed step by step and at the end it started on the first crank. The oily smell of new heads is almost burned off and I'll be driving it around the next few weeks watching for leaks and checking the gauges. Again thanks to all who helped, especially Stephen and Kingnutin. My wife is amazed that perfect strangers would take the time to help another stranger do such this job. Sab

08-03-2012, 11:02 AM	#28 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,808 Thanks: 205 Thanked 536 Times in 363 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	We're just doing what we can to make the world a better place, treat others as you would have them treat you. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

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