ok so my car leaks, former owner told me the head gasket needs to be replaced. my dad and i are fairly competant but i wanna know how difficutl yall think it is. we have never opened up a block but there's a first time for everything ne tips

 

it's fairly easy, first set the #1 piston at TDC. you will need to take the intake manifold off and of corse the exhaust manifold, then remove your valve cover. Before you remove the cams mark your cam sprockets and your chain!!!!!!!! then get some zip ties and zip tie your chain to the sprockets so you can have an easy install. then remove head bolts then the head and replace the gasket. install in reverse order and bamm
your done. remember to diconnect your battery before you start.

 

other than having to remove the intake and the exhaust manifolds that is about right... you can remove the head without removing these parts... leave the intake and the exhaust manifold on the head and pull them all as one unit... makes life easier and less things to remove...

a little piece of advice... change all the hoses under intake manifold while you have the head off of the car... you will have access to the hoses and chances are they have not been replaced since the car was made...

 

PCV valve. change that and it's hose too while you have access to it.

 

What is TDC, and how do you do it?

I found a complete car gasket kit on ebay for $90, seems like a good deal for complete top end gasket replacements, and then some.

If everything goes smoothly, about how long does it take to complete?

 

TDC is "Top Dead Center"

 

TDC is Top Dead Center. The point at which the piston is at the topmost point of travel. TDC on #1 is indicated by the timing marks on the crankshaft pulley.

Before continuing, you should know that you can download a copy of the factory service manual. You can get the one for your car here.

http://www.zeroyon.com/index/content/view/24/47/

First you need to get #1 on the compression stroke. Do this by removing the spark plug and feeling for a rush of air as you turn the crankshaft by hand. Align the white timing mark with the indicator needle. If you're not sure which one it is, it's the one that is second from the left with the timing marks on the upside of the pulley.

 

Thanks for the help! I noticed the notches when I installed the underdrive pulley. We'll see how it goes.