Cascade Crew

marinemom · New Member Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 1

It's a 94 Camaro, I know not a 3rd Gen. But if anybody remembers Joe and Reann, (both in Marines), her Dad could use your help. She blew the head gasket in her car the day she left for boot camp. He could use step by step instructions to fix. Lance are you still out there?

Danked · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject:

if you need step by step instructions, why not just get a manual? it'll tell u how to do it step by step and it will also help for other things that may happen later on too. just a suggestion.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject:

Uhh....

release fuel pressure
pull the battery
drain the radiator
probably drain the oil too
in a 4th gen removing the radiator, overflow, washer fluid tank, and anything else in the way might be in order, depends on how much clearence you will need
pull accessories and hang them out of the way, remove brackets
get the A/C out of the way (you can theoretically do the swap without decompressing the AC, I have, but it depends on the car)
remove and label all wires and vacuum lines going to the intake manifold and heads
remove upper intake
remove intake manifold
remove spark plugs
remove headers/exhaust manifolds
remove valve covers
remove rockers arms/pushrods (don't mix that stuff up)
remove head(s)
clean mating surfaces (check tolerances, might have them machined at a shop if they need it)
clean block deck
install new gasket(s) by the directions
install and torque heads according to whatever the manual says
use intake manifold gasket and RTV to reinstall intake manifold
put everything else back together

**Edit: And yes, Danked is 100% right. Pick up at the very least a Haynes manual, if not the GM shop manual.

chevymad · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

I take it this is Joe's mom? Havent seen ya since the elk river gathering years ago. Lance hasnt posted in a long long time. Is the car a v/8 or 6? Anyway, as you see from the previous post there's alot of steps. A manual might not be a bad idea. If he get's stuck on any one thing in particular I'm sure we could help figure it out.

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:39 pm Post subject:

I agree, the manual is best way to go, really, also, I don't know how much room a 4thgen has to pull the heads out, then engine is set back so far in the engine bay, I am sure getting the heads off is going to be a bit of work.

BTW, Tell Joe and Reann, that we all said hi!

Kage87Z · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:36 am Post subject:

You mean... it's not "add one gallon of stop-leak?"

/me is confused. Obviously, since I double posted.

Kage87Z · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:41 am Post subject:

You mean... it's not "add one gallon of stop-leak?"

/me is confused.

Back in my blown head gasket days, I also took the heads in to a machine shop to make sure the head gasket surfaces weren't warped. Because if they ARE warped, you can change the head gaskets a dozen times and they'll keep blowing.

iansane · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:57 am Post subject:

Buy some blue devil first. Smile

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:00 am Post subject:

That's of course assuming that it's not the cylinder or oil jackets leaking. And that you don't mind molesting your engine like that.

*Edit: Actually, that's different than the usual milkshake-mixed-with-aluminum-particles crap like Stopleak, right?

iansane · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:01 am Post subject:

Yeah. It's no milkshake stuff. It's not the best solution but a lot of times it's easier than do a headgasket and if it works. Suh-weet. It's like $60 a can though.

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:10 am Post subject:

Geez.... that sucks.

Back on topic, how did you diagnose the headgasket anyway? Low compression, water or oil in the cylinders, water/oil mix, or a water or oil leak to the outside?