[4 Jaw Chuck]

Originally posted by BOBCRMAN@aol.com
Head gaskets are NEVER to be used over again on bi-metal motors, H&ll they hardly last with new gaskets and bolts. The cost of the heli-coil kit at Wal-Mart was $12.00. Machine shop gets $20.00+ plus cost of Heli- $8.00 plus cost of cleaning head,$15.00, plus a used aluminum head is going to need resurfacing in 90 percent of the cars. I Do it every day.

No offense Bob but I have reused head gaskets on many aluminum motors with no problems...almost nobody retorques them that is the reason why they sometimes don't last. Up here Walmart doesn't carry anything like helicoils...especially spark plug helicoils.


Not looking for an argument, just offering my opinion.

[87442lover]

I've re-used head gaskets that were supposedly not re useable, I think 4 Jaw is right, just re-torque them and you should be fine. Well... as long as the gasket isnt 20 years old or anything

[60convert]

when i was going to vo-tech in our engine course we had like 25 engines on stands. these are the engines we used to learn about tearing engines down all the measurements and also putting it back together. I was working on a old chevy inline 6 we reused gaskets that weren't broken and head gaskets were always reused unless defective then engine i worked on had been pulled apart like 23 times before me and I had it all put back together with out a head gasket leak ohly leak was lifter covers that was easily fixed by straightening them. yeas it wasn't a bi-metal engine but you can get away with reusing stuff its noit like he wants it to last forever. I would still go to a parts housse and buy the kit that cuts the oversized threads as it uses whats left of the original threads to pilot the tool.
Jesse

[87442lover]

This brings up an interesting thought.

I wonder if just spraying the head with some copper gasket stuff would work with no head gasket. Hmmm.. I will have to try this one day when I get my hands on another junker lol, probably spray oil and coolant everywhere.

[60convert]

would probally make about the same mess as a guy I was working next to he had pulled a ford 4.6 out of a truck pulled had it on the stand pulled the front cover then went to flip it upside down but he had forgot to drain the last of the anti freeze and the oil made on hell of a mess on the floor you wopuld probally have the same nasty mess. but would be fun and a learning curve. almost like taking an engine and seeing what all you can put down the carb before it blows. who cares its all ready on the trailer on the way to the yard kinda fun.
Jesse

[87442lover]

See now your just egging me on and I REALLY want to try it now!

Hehehe.. who do I know that has a POS just lying aroung

[BstMech]

Originally posted by oldsF85
anyway the motor blew a spark plug out of the head and spilled gas everywhere over the engine block.

I'm sitting here thinking about this one.



I have used the thread sleeves that Bob mentioned many times and have yet to have a problem.