Head gasket sets?

[heyman421]

Looks like i'm doing a headgasket this weekend.

I flushed the cooling system in anticipation of summer, and people aren't kidding when they say sometimes the 'gunk' in your radiator is the only thing holding the car together. My occasional drip or two from the exhaust immediately turned into a rough idle and some steam. Looks like there must have been a chunk of carbon blocking a small hole.

Anyways, i see complete kits from both victor reinz and felpro, as well as a "high performance" gasket from felpro.

So who's used what? What's held up and what's crushed again in 500 miles?

I don't want to use a crappy gasket and end up having to retorque every few weeks out of paranoia.

[ProudNissanFreak]

Felpro's a pretty reliable brand, I've never had any issues with their stuff on my B14. Based on that, I'd recommend them, but let's get some of the 720 guys in here for some insight.

[breadbox]

to be honest IDK what I used. I'd recommend a full motor gasket set, never know what needs a gasket while your in there.

[woodbutcher5691]

I've always used the regular Felpro sets. No problems with them. I don't buy the Hi-performance cause I don't hotrod everywhere. But I do "get in it" every now and then.

[heyman421]

I ended up getting the felpro set.

Hopefully it's just the gasket and not the head. I guess i'll find out Saturday.

[woodbutcher5691]

Wouldn't hurt to run it by a machine shop and let them check it for warpage. I'd have it resurfaced while it is off, but that's just me. YOMV.

[heyman421]

Wooden 'wedge' didn't work.

Don't have a puller for the crank pulley or timing cover gasket.

Autozone is closed. Tomorrow is Sunday.

Want to cry.

[woodbutcher5691]

Bummer. The "good side" is you have the gaskets needed . I know it's a little late but a couple feet of heater hose doubled over and shoved in there works better for me. Does what it should and easier to get out. I used the wood wedge the 1st time and had hell getting it out. Never again for me. Aren't y'alls autozone open on Sunday? They are here. Goodluck.

[breadbox]

Wooden 'wedge' didn't work.

Don't have a puller for the crank pulley or timing cover gasket.

Autozone is closed. Tomorrow is Sunday.

Want to cry.

If wooden wedge didn't work that means you are doing timing. You can get the crank pulley off without one of those pullers, the puller just makes it fast and easy.

Remember the order of how the front cover bolts come out and the how the brackets overlap, or you will be like me and sitting the forever figuring it out.

[heyman421]

Bummer. The "good side" is you have the gaskets needed

The head gasket kit didn't come with a timing cover gasket. I could have pried the pulley off the hard way, used gasket maker and HOPED the cover lined up with the head studs without leaking, but it was 1am anyways and i figured getting a gasket and a puller would make the rest of the job a lot easier, without risking having to do it all over if it leaked with gasket maker.

And ya, i'm not excited about having to do timing and whatnot, but live and learn, i suppose.

Job's on hold until Tuesday after class. Very unsettling to have to abandon a project in such a state, though. Head's sitting atop the engine but not torqued to spec, and the valve cover, exhaust manifold, and dizzy are all in boxes Too many opportunities for things to get lost or mixed up for my liking.

[woodbutcher5691]

You got the gasket set and no timing cover gasket? Sounds like you got flim-flammed.
Maybe Tuesday will be a better day for workin' on the truck.

[heyman421]

Hmm, well i'll check again tomorrow at the shop.

Thanks for your support, guys. I was half expecting a bunch of 'we told you so' responses about the stupid wood block.

I feel pretty confident i'll have the truck back on the road in time for work Wednesday morning.

It's just frustrating that had it not been for that stupid tensioner i would have been on the road in an hour or so.

Now i've got another hour or two just to get back to where i was.

Luckily i hadn't torqued the head back down, so i think i can get away without dropping the oil pan.

[flinterman2000]

Couldn't get a head gasket here so I found a complete kit for the Z18ET in Australia for AD 125 and shipping. After I got the kit, my brother brought a felpro head gasket for me, so I have the full kit in case of anything. Will post a pic of the full kit after I take the pic tomorrow.

[flinterman2000]

Here it is. After shipping and customs clearance it cost a total of USD 350. This complete gasket kit came from Australia.

[heyman421]

Truck is done! I wasn't feeling brave enough to drive it all the way home from the shop at 12:00am, but i did get a chance to drive it around the block a few times, and it's running better than ever.

The job ended up being a nightmare, though. After i messed up the tensioner, i broke the pulley when putting it back on so i had even more downtime.

All stupid mistakes that turned a quick job into a 2 week fiasco.

Truck ran like absolute garbage until i drove it a bit. I think the headgasket had been gone/going for a long time before it ever started smoking, and cylinders 3&4 had a few years of low-compression carbon buildup because it just started dumping out black smoke like some of the seafoam demonstrations i've seen.

Anyways, i'm planning on putting some miles on the truck tomorrow. I feel like i've definitely picked up quite a bit of power that was lacking before, and i'm excited to see what happens to my fuel economy as well.

[woodbutcher5691]

I usually allow a whole day for what's supposed to be a 30 minute job, it's just the way my luck goes most of the time.

[heyman421]

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