Parts needed for head gasket job?

Hey Guys!

Geeze, it certainly looks different around here since I've been gone. Just getting healed up from Rotator cuff surgery and it's been hell! But, things are progressing and I want to get my little Shadow back on the road for the winter.

I was hoping someone could give me a complete list of parts needed to complete the head gasket repair. I'll also be replacing the timing belt while it's torn down. I plan on having my nephew do the work under my close supervision since I cannot do the work myself.

What brand of head gasket do you suggest?
Should I get new head bolts?
What kind of gasket cement?
etc

Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated :grinyes:

Thanks Guys!
Jackie

Hi Jackie, long time no hear.

I hope you're doing well after your surgery.

Fel-Pro makes a special "head gasket" set designed to have everything you need for a cylinder head removal and rebuild. I used one on my Shadow. You will need to replace the head bolts, as well. They are not reusable and come separate from the gasket set. Fel-Pro sells the head bolts, too.

Once you get the head off, take it to an engine/machine shop for a teardown, inspection and rebuild. These aluminum heads are prone to cracking and you want everything on the head checked and repaired before putting it back on. "Do it once and do it right" is my motto. A little extra time and money on the front end will save the time and money of dong it over on the back end.

If you haven't done so already, get a service manual. My Haynes manual had all the information I needed to complete the head work on my Shadow.

Make sure your nephew does some upper body workouts before torquing the head bolts. Head bolt torquing is a three-step sequence. The first step is all bolts to 45 ft.lbs. The second step is all bolts to 65 ft.lbs. The final step is the "Killer". The final step is to tighten each bolt 1/4 turn. This stretches each bolt. I used my 24-inch breaker bar to accomplish the last step, which took quite a bit of effort. I felt fine after I finished. But the next day, my shoulders and upper arms were so sore, I could hardly move. Then, for the next four days, I couldn't lift my right arm above the height of my shoulder. I worried that I did permanent damage to my body. But, thankfully, I didn't and I recovered fully within a week. Just be forewarned.

It has been three months now since I reassembled the head and engine on my Shadow. I have put 3,000 trouble free miles on the car since. Nothing beats driving with the top down all summer. And my Shadow is running like new.

Anyway, let us know if you have any other questions or comments.

Read the manual while looking at the car to become familiar with the job. Note every part you are going to have to remove and its condition.

A partial list may include
new hoses and clamps
belts
air filter
oil filter
oil
coolant
spark plugs and/or anything else you may need for a tune-up
hardware
gaskets - find out what gaskets come with the head gasket kit

I would check your tools a 3 piece set of impact swivels1/4,3/8,1/2 inch drive will save you much time and agravation. Otherwise the list supplied for parts is readily available.