To remove the head or to not remove.. Dilemma

[Devin LeBlanc]

Well, so yesterday I removed my good running engine to replace the blown transmission, today I got my engine stand back so I decided to pull the trans off and put the motor on the stand as Im going to reseal the oil pan.. So as Im removing the two top bell-housing bolts I notice that there is an abnormal piece of metal sticking out of the back of my engine between the head gasket and the block.. So I went inside and looked at pics of when I did the head gasket to see exactly what it was..

Anyways, Here are some pics of what im talking about, I have circled it in Red.. Now the question is, do i remove the head and replace with a new gasket or just leave it.. hmm :nono: Im not sure if it blew out or happened when I installed it 13,360 miles ago..

 

[IJ.]

Comp test?

 

[bioskyline]

wow. almost looks like someone left a feeler gauge finger behind. but what ij said. put the tranny or a bellhousing on and comp check it. if its the area in red it doesnt look to critical, looks far enough away from the bore and the jackets, but looks like it ripped out around the dowl on the back of the block. but if its out, its prob best to replace it now when its easy to do, rather than have to pull it all apart later.

 

[hvyman]

Comp test would be ideal, but since motor is already out and something blew that out as you can see marks its prolly compression. Weird i dont remember my felpro looking like that and i just did a hg the 1st of the year.

 

[cricketjoe]

didn't you have a rebuilt transmission and changed the filter not long ago? what happen to cause the transmission to die?

 

[carmsbody]

yeah im with bioskyline on this one, looks like something was left in ther when it was tensioned down. i dont think it is part of the gasket, dosnt look like the part of the gasket you circled in the other pic

if it passes a comp test then leave it there and dont try and pull on it or cut it off, you may dislodge it and break the seal and then you will have to pull the head

 

[bioskyline]

yeah im with bioskyline on this one, looks like something was left in ther when it was tensioned down. i dont think it is part of the gasket, dosnt look like the part of the gasket you circled in the other pic

i do believe that is a MHG, not a felpro thats installed on the engine. i can see where it has ripped out.

 

[hvyman]

Its hard to compare size with those pics but unless for some odd reason you were trying to measure hg thickness with a feeler gauge there should be no reason that any foreign object is there. Unless....Many things pop into head now...

Edit: your kidding right? mhg or mls are single layers with about 5 layers.. Meaning the entire hg is a bunch of layers that look like the block or picture the felpro gasket stamped in steel.

 

[bioskyline]

ok my bad.

 

[hvyman]

Ya no prob. There is still layers like that in composite hg but the are different with a different top layer that helps it seal

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

I was the installer of the head, The pic with the head gasket part circled is my pic and the actual gasket that is on the car, and that is my head in the picture as well.. It is NOT a metal head gasket, just to be clear... The only thing a feeler gauge was used for was a valve lash, which was a whole set of them.. Its kind of hard to tell but the thing circled on the gasket is what is sticking out of the head.. Here are some more pics..

Also the gasket in the pic that is the bottom, that goes up against the block..

 

[hvyman]

No1 pointer i have learned. Always set the head on the exhaust studs or exhaust side to prevent war page. I would never set a head on the milled side. Its a piece of metal right it doesnt warp that easy wrong. Its a precise piece of alum that you want straight as a arrow. I remove those t stat housing studs when the head is going to sit for a lil.

I would sine you have the ease, You also have arp, pull the head machine pressure check, Idk what your prices are but usually about 60$ from what i have seen and get another felpro gasket which is about 85-100 depending on your discount.

You have it out its easy and its fairly cheap. No1 reason for doing it now is its not in the car and awkward as hell. If it was me i would. thats just me tho.

 

[bioskyline]

+1 with hvyman its out, best to fix it now.

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

Machining the head is no problem, get that done for free.. Gasket is like 65.00 shipped.. Just don't see how that could blow out.. Ill throw a compression gauge on it and do a check tomorrow..

About the head thing, Built about 20 motors and never had a problem with the heads being sit flat..

 

[hvyman]

Its just something i have learned from a machinist. There is no reason to set the head on the sealing surface after it has been machined.

You felpro looked different than mine. Have you check the torque on the head bolts/studs(which did you use). You are supposed to do a re torque as the bolt/studs will settle and which is why reusing is easier.

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

Re-torque procedure was done, torqued to 90 ft lbs.. Let the gasket settle and did a re-torque. Never had any over heating, burning oil, milky coolant or oil since I did the head gasket..

 

[hvyman]

Let the gasket settle? Usually a re torque is after a few heat cycles not just sitting.

All in all seems like you did a ok job and maybe you just got a shit gasket. There have been some of those posted over the years but it also could have been the installers.

From the pics it does not look like something from the install.

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

The gasket was re-torqued after 5 heat cycles, Definitely not the install that caused this.. Im going to say felpro, they have a 12 month warrantee wonder if they'd replace it.. I can get a receipt that says it was installed by a ASE certified master tech.. hmm

 

[hvyman]

By a ase master tech? I some how doubt that is you. Also warrenty says by a qualified tech. So im sure you are not a master tech. If you want to go about "those kind of ways" Posting them should not happen.

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

My brother is a ASE master tech and Im a "qualified" tech with schooling in automotive.

---------- Post added at 01:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 AM ----------

Also what do you mean did an OK job installing it?