need help changing my head gaskets!!

[startrek]

hello guys...
as you can see I'm new here and live in Denmark. I've got a 97 z28 5,7 and I have to change the head set gaskets, but I haven't done suche a project before. I was wondering if one of you guys could help me. Do I have to take hole engine out in order to change the head set gaskets or I just can replace it as it is??
thanks for your help

[Smokn '94 Z]

You can do it in the car. It is going to be quite a job so be organized. The intake will have to come off & the exhaust manifolds also to get the heads off to replace the head gaskets. If you know nuts & bolts then you will be alright. This linky might help you a bit. I know it is for a '94 but to get the heads off it is pretty much the same... Also you may need new intake manifold gaskets too....


http://www.afrashteh.com/guide/install.htm



Good luck.

[BigGuy]

I used that link last yr when I blew the gaskets on my 95Z, it worked great.

My concern is how long has the coolant been running in the wrong places. Mine was in the oil for a week or 2 and a month after I replaced the head gaskets, my crankshaft spun 2 bearings due to coolant seeping in. So I had to replace all the same gaskets for a second time. This is not to say it will happen to you, but I would be thinking about it.

[ZAdministrator]

I don't know what kind of budget you are on, or how many miles the car has, but while they are off it may not hurt to get the heads reworked. As a rule of thumb I always do this when I pull the heads. Get the valve seats, guides, and check for cracks.

[86RedRocket]

Originally posted by Z28.com
I don't know what kind of budget you are on, or how many miles the car has, but while they are off it may not hurt to get the heads reworked. As a rule of thumb I always do this when I pull the heads. Get the valve seats, guides, and check for cracks.

The bad thing is that you can't always see the cracks. I know you can get them magna-flux(spelling?) tested for that.

[startrek]

thanks guys...
It's great to hear that I dont have to take the engine out.... as for my buget i have to say that it's not that great. Here in Denmark everything costs about 4 to 5 times more as it does in us...

[moehorsepower]

I would order ARP head bolts.the factory are torque to yield.This means when you get to your torque setting,STOP! if you go back and try to recheck them like the ole days they will snap off.I even bought new ones from the dealer,but I just did not like the way they felt when tightening them.It was not solid like the ARP.