Thats why I always make sure i have the manaul with the torque specs right in front of me as I'm doing it so I can't mess up on the specs. Proper torque is essential, especially on the heads! I think that was basically your whole problem was just the torque. I also think I would drive it normal and let it break in for at least 100 miles before getting on it too hard. You probably should go longer, but with no boost and everything put together properly and torqued properly, 100 miles should be sufficient to not cause any problems.

I am not a veteran mechanic by any means, and I don't have a LOT of experience, but I know enough not to make most of the mistakes you made with yours. Being 17 and a licensed mechanic (unforunately only in Engine repair and automotive electrical systems right now, I was in a bad mood the day I took the tests and failed the Engine performance test by 1 question ) I can tell you that you don't learn everything hands on. You learn from watching others, reading manuals, and looking up proper procedures for things. But hey, you're trying, you deserve props for that.

Shawn

Lakeville mentions reading the manual cover to cover for the procedure you are about to perform. I also like to know it inside out before beginning and then you have someone else...a friend there to help. This way if you are about to do something really stupid and they are following you with the book ....what if they read something you missed?

Saves time and effort. Plus it'* nice to have a friend on hand and you both learn.

You have ambition and drive, it'* a good thing....now we just need to get some of the typical teen out of you.

Haven't done much yet. Just pulled the headers, valve covers, and ICM+Coils. I'm going to try to get a friend to help me [she'* not all that great of a mechanic, but she wants to learn, and this is a good experience, since she has to do the head gaskets on her car before she can drive it {3.8L ford}.

I really have no clue how I mixed all that crap up. I really have no clue. I feel so damn retarded because I totally screwed up the torquing.

Also, I will be sure to do the proper break-in procedure. Don't need to **** around with this again.

I am going to get the heads magnafluxed for sure, possibly milled if I can afford it.


-justin

Yeah, I know it is. I told her she'll be blowing them every 10,000 miles, and she said the car was on it'* 3rd set, at 120 or 130k. It'* been pretty spread out though.. like she said 40k, 60k, then 110k or so. But now that she just got her license, part of her step to getting the car, is doing the work herself.. and although there are going to be like 7 of her friends [including me] working on it.. it'* going to be like a big group project. It'* on a Tarus, btw. I have never popped the hood on the car, but I am going to assume the car is going to be a whole different animal than working on my 3800.

I will have them checked, for sure. No questions asked. Even if they do check out, I think I may spring for the shaving. I know it won't really increase power much, if at all, but at least I have a completely clean surface on the heads.

As far as the Acetone goes, I have some of that, but uh.. it'* industrial grade, not lab grade. So it doesn't evaporate cleanly.. but I'm not pouring ounces all over the heads.. so is that alright? Or would Isopropyl work better? Possibly Naptha [I have lab grade of it]. I'll do the evaporation test again on the Acetone, and see how bad it was. Last time I did it, it wasn't that bad, and that was with about 1oz of product.

You know, I have yet to see anyone, BUT me use gm overhaul gasket set. I'm afraid that may have played a role too, because I have no clue how long that **** has been sitting on a shelf collecting dust. Plus it'* only like $50 for the Fel-Pros, versus like $80 for the GMs.


-justin

Ha have fun with her 3.8 justin. Totally different ballpark, you'll hate that car with such extreme passion when you're done you won't ever want to see it again. Of course don't listen to me, find out for yourself. Lol. Good luck with your own headaches in the mean time.

I always use GM gaskets for everything. There may be other companies that make better ones, but if I buy GM ones I know the quality should be at least what was on the car when it was new....thats good enough for me. I wouldn't complain about $80 either. With my wholesale price just my head gaskets were $50. Then the LIM gaskets, plenum gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets (those were ~$15 each), and other misc stuff. Then head bolts were around $100 or so for all 16.

Shawn

However, how many people here have had good luck with the Fel-Pros? How many people have had bad luck with the GM gaskets [other than stock]? I can't find anyone who has used GM Gaskets, yet everyone who used the Fel-Pros was good to go. Right? Am I right? Or am I crazy like with the 100ft lb head-bolt torquing?

Alec: Yeah, I know I will hate it. But this girl, she'* pretty cute... 'member Tara, yeah, it'* her car . She'* got her dad'* Jeep for the time being, but she goes through like 3 tanks of gas a week.

Also, Alec what about that sealant stuff.. anyone else used that, and is it like silicone based or something? I always thought that stuff would pit the heads..


-justin