'99 Blown Head gasket

[mark_gober]

Hey everyone,

New to this particular forum, usually over in Windstar-land. I'm helping my dad revive a '99 Grand Am with the V6. It was given to him and was told it had a blown head gasket.

I undertook the pain in the rear process of tearing it apart Friday in the lovely 105 degree Texas heat. I was able to get it completely torn apart after several aggravations. We have one head gasket back in there and will finish the job later this week.

Once I was already deep into the job, my brother relayed some story he'd read about online about it not even being work fixing because this is a VERY common problem and it can warp the surfaces so that the new gasket doesn't work. The surfaces looked pretty good when I was in there. (I checked them with a metal construction square.)

Anyone ever had luck fixing this problem? (and it staying fixed)

Mark

[GTP Dad]

If you checked them and found them to be flat with no warpage you shouldn't have any problems with the gaskets sealing. You should check both the head and the block for flatness using the square and a feeler gauge. I don't know the spec on this particular engine so you may want to check a manual. If everything is within spec then you shouldn't have any problems. If not get the heads resurfaced or you will have problems. Also make sure to use new head bolts as these are torque to yield bolts and will not reseal if reused.

[MagicRat]

I always send the heads out to a machine shop to check them out. It's cheap insurance and peace-of-mind. Often, HG's blow for a reason, so its best to check the head out.

Construction squares are not straight enough, so have the head professionally checked for straightness, pressure-tested and tested for cracks, and valve seat and stem wear.