Verifying a meteal head gasket

Ricmancan

New Member
May 15, 2011
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toronto
Hey guys, I just bought a '89. 286K. I was told that it has a metal head gasket and arp studs, is ther anyway of verifying this. If I take off the valve covers what do the arp studs look like. And while i'm there should i retorque. 90 ft/ld?
 

hvyman

Dang Dude! No Way Man.
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Apr 17, 2007
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You can retorque if you like. Crack them loose and retorque. I would call the guy and ask him if it was 80 or 90ftlbs. If he already did it i wouldnt worry about it.

You might be able to look around the head and see if you see flat black metal gasket or rivets. Might not be able to tell tho.

Stock are bolts. The arp head studs the stud will say arp on it and it will have a 12pt nut.
 

Ricmancan

New Member
May 15, 2011
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toronto
Thanks, The guy I bought it off say's that the previous owner did, but couldn't supply a reciept. If they are arp's you think theres a good chance of being a metal gasket, I'd like to be sure before I start doing performance stuff.
 

hvyman

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Staff member
Apr 17, 2007
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If there are arps maybe. Its still better than nothing. Also you really dont have any idea on whether both the block and head was machined or just the head.

So if everything else is good, like all maintenance, then i would just start modding it. If it blows you can always just replace it or rebuild it.

Only alternative is to drive it how it is and build something else.
 

Ricmancan

New Member
May 15, 2011
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toronto
I bought another one last month, it was supposed to be a project car, but it was going to be major time and money. I bought this one and it's running pretty good so far, if anything goes i have a parts car. Maked thing much easier.
 

adampecush

Regular Supramaniac
May 11, 2006
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Edmonton
The head gasket protrudes from the size of the block/head interface on the intake side of the engine. Take a magnet and see if it sticks to the gasket. If it does, you've got a MHG.
 

radiod

Supramania Contributor
Dec 13, 2007
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adampecush;1725944 said:
The head gasket protrudes from the size of the block/head interface on the intake side of the engine. Take a magnet and see if it sticks to the gasket. If it does, you've got a MHG.

Or you could just look, you should be able to see it enough to tell it's metal. Plus aren't most metal head gaskets stainless, and thus non magnetic?
 

adampecush

Regular Supramaniac
May 11, 2006
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Edmonton
radiod;1725946 said:
Or you could just look, you should be able to see it enough to tell it's metal. Plus aren't most metal head gaskets stainless, and thus non magnetic?

Look at what? The gasket is only really visible at one or two locations. If the gasket is stainless, it wouldn't be non-magnetic stainless (200 or 300 series) anyway since the non-mag stuff is weaker and more expensive than magnetic (400,etc) grades.

Only austenitic (200/300) stainless is non-magnetic.
 

92TealSupra

Supramania's Parts Man
Sep 2, 2008
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Great Lakes State
adampecush;1725944 said:
The head gasket protrudes from the size of the block/head interface on the intake side of the engine. Take a magnet and see if it sticks to the gasket. If it does, you've got a MHG.

Best answer. There are other places to check around the motor to see if it is a MHG. The picture above is a place to check. Also for shits, you could take off your valve covers and see if there are ARP head studs.. it is east to read ( ARP ) on them. At least you don't heave to remove the cam shafts to do it.
 

suprarich

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Nov 9, 2005
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ohio
p1726277_1.jpg


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