2005 3400 head gasket job (lifters?)

[jimh]

'05 w/3400, auto, 80,000 miles

My daughters car. She gets the oil changed like I taught her. However, it started running like crap, she took it to a shop that her boyfriend trusts:
Lots of antifreeze in the oil!!!!
NEEDS (so they say):
Head Gasket
Fues Pressure Regulator
Coolant Reservoir Tank
Thermostat
Oil Change
Antifreeze
...Etc...$2500

Since I am laid off and a "back yard kinda guy" and she has no money, I figured I could do the heads for about $500 (cut her a break on the labor).

After cleaning and checking the block and heads, nothing is warped. I've removed and cleaned the valves on the 1st head, and am starting on the other one.

Everything actually looks pretty normal for 80,000.

Here's the question; since I have it torn apart this far, what is the deal with the lifters? Do I even need to touch them? Pack them with Lube?

Just dont' want to put it back together after all this work and miss something
stupid.

Thanks in advance.
Jim

p.s. Looking through the Forum(lots), saw mention of "looking for leaks" as you work from the top down. After pulling the LIM, you might be able to tell where the leak is? I didn't see anything obviously wrong with LIM gaskets or head gaskets. What caused this water into the oil in the first place? Before I put it back together!

[jimh]

More questions....
This had the red "dexcool" antifreeze in it. Should I fill it back up with that?
Cleaning the block; I pulled the drain plugs and dropped the oil pan and blew air through every hole I found. Anything else before re-assembly?

Thanks

[3100]

don't have to do anything with lifters. It is important to put them in the same spot that you removed them from.

About red coolant I heard many bad things (ex: clogs radiator and other good stuff) , I personally wanted to put green but could not find any in my area and ended up with red again. I work for big GM dealership we still use red and since I put it in mine again I am trying to convince myself that if red was so bad it would be discontinued by now.

don't forget new t-stat.
But still believe that green is better quality (looks thicker)

I hope someone did not put antifreeze where oil goes. Did coolant reservoir cap or tank look like a milkshake?

[xeroinfinity]

If you cant clean all the DEX out I'd stick with it. Mixing green and dex is what cloggs up the cooling system.

You'll also need new head and intake bolts, kinda pricey at part stores. Here is a link with the newr torq procedures at of 2003.

3.4 V6 SFI LIM Gasket Procedure
Head Torq Specs & Sequence on the 3.4L

Also it doesnt hurt to pull the lifters and check that the rollers are all in good shape. When they arent rolling you damage the cam, or it could break the cam as they are hollow.

[jimh]

Thanks for the replys. I went ahead and took the lifters out, cleaned them and soaked them in oil to get the air out and put some assembly lube on them. They looked in very good shape and the roolers were very smooth. Question... the lifters only have a hole on 1 side. I didn't pay attention on the first side, but I looked at the second side and it seems that the hole faces toward the middle of the block. Make a difference? Got one head back on but have to quit for the day.
P.S. One thing that didn't get mentioned in any posts or books. When I pulled the heads, I did it with the exhaust manifolds still attached, both sides. Sure made it easier than getting to the manifold bolts. Put the firewall one back the same way; put manifold and heat shields on before putting the head on.
Thanks again,
Jim

[xeroinfinity]

Yes the holes in the lifters should point to each other, in the middle.
I realy dont think it matters to much. Ive seen them both ways, but I always turn them(the holes) to face each other.

Yeah those exhaust bolts in the back are a PITA !
Last year I done the heads on my GA GT and I installed SS headers. I bolted them up snug before installing the heads, made it easier but still a bear to tighten all the way, but worth the trouble IMO.

[jimh]

Thanks for all the input.
WOW, did I almost screw up bit time. Using a digital torque wrench and had it set to Newton Meters, not Foot Pounds. These are not the same! Anyway, noticed that on the second head and had to go back to the first head and tighen her up. I might have had to kick my own butt.
Just have to reconnect all the wiring, power steering, alternator, etc, but can't work on it until Monday.
I'll update if and when it starts.
Thanks again to all.