kamonjj

Does anyone know of a good thread or write up in regards to doing a head gasket? I have done them before in small block chevys but never in a jeep. I know with every type of motor there are things to do and watch out for. Little tips and tricks. So Let me hear it!

captainwoot

Did you try the search feature on here??

tannerp89

buy a haynes manual for your jeep. tell ya everything you need to know to change the head gasket...even torque specs and patterns

98 JeepJeep

its straight forward as heck....I just did mine last fall.
Buy new motor mounts...
have the head checked over good and you will either have to fold the firewall pinch weld or drop the motor down some to get to the back right 12 point head bolt.....

kamonjj

OK I do have a haynes manual but I know using these manuals for a long time that they dont tell you all the secrets like folding up that firewall weld or droping the motor.

I'm either going to have a machine shop pressure test the head and see if it has any cracks. If it does have a crack then i'm going to get either a rebuilt one or a new one. Brand new with 5 year warrenties run 389. Used are around 250 rebuilt with a 1 year warrenty.

98 JeepJeep

stay away from used...............389 isnt bad...i have about 300ish in my head after the hott tank,magnafluex and valave job

kamonjj

Yeah I just got the word from the shop that looked and comfirmed my suspictions. Its a valve problem. Sticking or burned valve. I think that its a burned valve because I ran so much cleaner through it its not funny. They did the same today and couldnt quiet the mis.

So i'm going to have to pull the head and see whats going on. I am strongly considering buying a brand new head with the 5 year warrenty for piece of mind purposes only.

northline76

it can be a *****, just pull the head with the intake and exhaust manifolds on it. currently in the process of doing mine.

JonHughes

where did you get those prices for a motor? out here in oregon the cheapest ive found is like a grand for a rebuilt one.

kamonjj

I'm not buying a motor, i'm buying a cylinder head. Just the head.

98 JeepJeep

i find that advance auto's prices on engine and transmission are Darn hard to beat..even if you were to rebuild it yourself. and i believe they use spartan which has a 3 year warranty.

kamonjj

I'm getting the head from cylinder-head.com

I'm getting the gaskets and head bolts from advance auto

If I need lifters, rockers, or push rods they will be coming from autozone.

kamonjj

Well I ordered my head today. 389 shipped to my door! Should be here thursday.

Does anyone think that I should order anything like push rods, lifters, or rockers?

kamonjj

Well I started on the head install today. It looks as though I may be needing a new header. It has hair line cracks over a few of the welds. I'll take a closer look tomorrow. I dont have the best light in the garage.

In a few hours of work i: drained coolant, pulled the radiator, pulled the plugs, set motor to TDC, removed belt, PS pump, intake mani, exhaust header, valve cover, rockers and push rods.

I'm planning on getting as far as I can tomorrow. I don't see why I won't at least have the new head installed.

Has anyone else had a ton of sludge on the head around on the springs and lifters? I also had a ton of sludge in the intake manifold. How is that even possible? It was caked through it. I couldn't believe the amount of sludge in all of the ports etc.

kamonjj

Well I finally got the head off today. It turns out that I had a burned exhaust valve.

I'm going to be installing the brand new head tomorrow evening.