Head gasket questions...

[ksollinger]

So I finally got my head gasket kit yesterday. Does anyone have any suggestions / recomendations before I start or things I should be careful of when I'm doing this. It's my first time replacing a head gasket.
Thanks,
Kelly

 

[D'Animal]

Take pictures of all of your vacuum hoses and thier orientation.

You did get a new manifold gasket as well, correct?

 

[cruiser88]

For a 60 go buy some vaccum line labeling stickers

 

[cruiser88]

Buy or borrow a decent torque wrench
Don't forget to re-tighten head bolts after 100 mile 500 or whatever

Check the faq for learning how to adjust valves cause you will need to do this at least twice.

Buy some feeler guages

Buy a crows foot for the middle head bolt.


start soaking down the exhaust bolts now.

 

[D'Animal]

You will probably need a "J" pipe gasket.

 

[ksollinger]

So I've got a desmogged engine so the hoses shouldn't be to much of a hassel. The exhaust and intake manifold will be coming off so the machined intake manifold and header can go on instead. I just plan on cutting the exhaust off with a sawzall so the bolts won'tbe an issue. Should I follow the steps as outlined in the FSM to remove the head? Is it neccesary to remove the rockers and valves, etc to get the head off or can I just leave them on (i've never done this before). Is adjusting the valves an easy task? Does anyone know how heavy the head is? I've got the manuals and plenty of tools so wish me luck. Thanks for your suggestions and keep them comming, I've still got a couple more days until I do this.
Thanks again

 

[robbl]

As I recall, you've got to take the rocker assy off. Keep track of the valve rods so you can replace in the same order. I usually take an old shoe box and punch holes in the top to hold the rods in order corresponding to the layout of the engine, to keep everything straight and organized.

If you haven't drilled and tapped and plugged the oil passage in the head you should do that while its apart. There are lots of references to the procedure, here is one at this website:
Welcome to ROCKCRAWLER.COM (Land Cruiser Q&A, March 15th, 1998)

Good luck,

 

[cruiser88]

So I've got a desmogged engine so the hoses shouldn't be to much of a hassel. The exhaust and intake manifold will be coming off so the machined intake manifold and header can go on instead. I just plan on cutting the exhaust off with a sawzall so the bolts won'tbe an issue. Should I follow the steps as outlined in the FSM to remove the head? Is it neccesary to remove the rockers and valves, etc to get the head off or can I just leave them on (i've never done this before). Is adjusting the valves an easy task? Does anyone know how heavy the head is? I've got the manuals and plenty of tools so wish me luck. Thanks for your suggestions and keep them comming, I've still got a couple more days until I do this.
Thanks again

Yes follow the FSM...yes it is quite heavy. Yes it is easy just follow the FSM

 

[D'Animal]

The head is easy to pick up and carry across the shop, 80lbs maybe.


Now imagine extending it out in front of you at full arms length. It gets heavy pretty quick.


Valve adjustment are easy.


Make sure you retorque the head after 200 miles or so.

 

[2mbb]

For a 60 go buy some vaccum line labeling stickers

x2. I purchased labels for wires at my local hardware store. they came as a little book with pages with A-Z and 1-15. They fit nicely around the 3mmID silicone vacuum hose and have held up quite nicely over several years (8+ so far). It's a little time consuming to get them on, but it helps a lot with any sort of maintenance or repair.

GB WIRE MARKER BOOKLET Book of 450 markers 42-035 GB ELECTRICAL