what should i do?

[dohcgst]

what should i do, my car has a blown head gasket, and it is blow because i have a fully built head and not a build up lower end. I bought a new cylinder head for it, and a fel pro head gasket kit. My parents offered me 400 to take is somehwere and get it fixed, but i am weirey because i might be able to do it myslef, with the help of a hanes manual. what should i do? also if i accept the 400 that is basically my christmas!! thanks

[kjewer1]

Not having a built lower end will not cuase a blown hG Having a shyte felpro head gasket on the other hand, could. What gasket was usd when you put the fully built head on it? Or is that the head going on and it blew on the stock head? Either way, you could do this yourself if you are not afraid of a pretty big job. The main concern is having to do the timingbelt. The dealer wil charge at least yourparents 400 just to do that part of it If you do this job yourself do yourself a favor and do it the "RRE way." Go to www.roadraceengineering.com and look for the vfaq on how to swap heads without having to doa telt job. If your car is at the mileage that it needs to be done anyway, dont skimp out, nows the time to do it. But I cant say enough that i would only have the dealer do it, even though half the dealers dont know how. But your chances are much worse at a non dealer garage. Also see this page since you WILL be using ARP head studs, right? http://www.racingknowledge.org/topic...rms=head,studs

Use a good gasket. I would suggest a stock gasket from mitsu. If you want to get fancy and impress your friends, use the Mitsu 4 Metal Layer (MLS, or multi layer steel) head gasket from ralliart, sold by several DSM vendors. The only aftermarket gaskets used with any success are Cometic, and sometimes HK$.

Good luck.

[dohcgst]

Alright so i do have ARP head bolt, but i dont really understand, i need to put that lube on them and bolt it down to 80 lbs tourq? I have returned the stupid ass fel pro kit and got a factory mitsu gasket. I just need to know what i need to do to bolt the head down with the already installed ARP bolts

[kjewer1]

Pull the studs out and do everything i suggest in that thread I linked to, then reinstall them. I lost my HG to not tapping the holes first. Read and reread the info there. Its all there.

Short version:

Tap holes with correct tap
use lube on both ends of studs
Hand tighten only
use ARP lube on the nut end of the stud, and washers
torque in 3 stages to 80 ft lbs, try 20, 40, 80. Just be sure the last step is a big jump

The details are all in that RKO thread