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Easiest header gasket replacement from experience?

Discussion in '96-04 - 2V Specific' started by Wild Horses, Feb 24, 2014.

  1. Feb 24, 2014 #1
    Wild Horses

    Wild Horses Active Member

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    Yup. It's leaking bad now and it is so annoying. You should know if you've had one leak how bad it makes the motor sound. Sounds like an old Chevy van inside or something. Whatever.

    Ive been dreading doing this because I'm new to the 4.6 and the first time I looked for the bolts I could BARELY even find the headers. But there's a big BBK badge down there and I'm just baffled at how the PO got those things in there. I've done many many a 5.0 and even they are tricky sometimes. So from your experiences I'd like to see what I can do to make this just a headache and not a nightmare. Thanks guys.
     
  2. Feb 24, 2014 #2
    330CubeGt

    330CubeGt Well-Known Member

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    Just have to do it and figure it out lol. They are a pain in the ass with the staggered bolt holes and you really should pull the entire header and clean both the header and the head surface. Your gona have a lot of 1/4 & 1/2 turns with a open end wrench to walk the bolts out. I would say 2hrs a side by hand...
     
  3. Feb 24, 2014 #3
    Butch

    Butch New Member

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    Gotta love those 1/4 turns. Hell even 1/8 at some point =]„ have fun. Feels good afterwards though. I loosened my passengers side once, good times good times.

    Sent from your moms breastesses
     
  4. Feb 24, 2014 #4
    96blak54

    96blak54 Legend

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    And when you finish tightening that last bolt youll think..."do I want to double check them?"
     
  5. Feb 26, 2014 #5
    Wild Horses

    Wild Horses Active Member

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    LOVELY. Thanks fellas.
     
  6. Feb 26, 2014 #6
    PonyGlued

    PonyGlued New Member

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    get yourself a swivel socket and a round palm ratchet & have 3 or 4 extension's in various lengths, will shorten the time needed a bit
     
  7. Feb 26, 2014 #7
    Redford

    Redford Member

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    Easiest? With the heads off the block.

    On the bright side, it's a good excuse to do a PI swap if that's what you're into? :rolleyes:
     
  8. Feb 26, 2014 #8
    kb1982

    kb1982 Active Member

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    Get a couple of studs that you can screw into the head to hold the gasket in place while you put the header on. Put a few bolts in, then remove the studs and replace with the bolts. Best trick Ive used for headers. I use the same trick for trannys to hold them in place also.
     
  9. Feb 26, 2014 #9
    Wild Horses

    Wild Horses Active Member

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    I actually just picked up an entire 2002 PI Motor last night. ;)