About to do my first head install! Any tips?

Gotta torque the heads, do pushrods and rocker arms! Should be fun!
I've got the chiltons and think I've got the basics from around the web. You guys have personally tips, tricks or preferences?

 

Lightly oil the head bolts. IF your using cork end seals on the intake do not use any silicone on them except the corners. It would cause the seals to squeeze out when torquing. Follow the bolt tightening sequence for heads and intake. Torque the intake in steps and repeat the final torque a few times in sequence.
Gaskets are designed to seal. Minimize any silicone use. Some guys really over do it. It does more bad than good.
How To Rebuild Your Small Block Ford is a really great book for this type of work. It was like a bible to me when I was younger.

PS Double and triple check the head gasket install before you put the heads on. Take your time!!!!!

 

There is a front and back to those head gaskets. Don't swap them up.

 

Or better yet don't use the cork gaskets and just use 100% RTV

 

Thanks for the input guys!
I took both the heads completely off to check the gaskets, and they were right to begin with. Using the Felpro gaskets so not planning on using any sealant with it.
The Edelbrock intake that I had calls for no gasket and just a certain type of sealant. I had the cork gasket, but I guess I'll just use sealant.

Does the intake have to be put on at the same time as the heads? I was planning on doing that tomorrow..

 

Hmm thinking about sealers: u guys use thread lock or rtv on the head bolts? I got both..

 

with light oil, you need neither...

 

never heard of this...got a part # or link?

you can install the intake later. just cover the motor so no dust or dirt gets in it...

 

Sure. It's for the Edelbrock Performer intake. They say of the end seal gaskets to use Edelbrock Gasgacinch #9300 and High Temp RTV silicone sealant.
Still planning on using the gaskets I have for where the intake meets the heads... I think they mean to just not use the gasket for the end seals where the intake meets the block

 

Yes, and that could be a bad idea too, if the gap you're filling is to big to fill with RTV. :16suspect

 

If you've got a roller block, you'll need thread sealer NOT oil on the lower (short) head bolts as the lower head bolt holes go all the way thru the deck into the coolant jackets. I use common pipe thread teflon paste sealer for these. What head gaskets are you using ? Are they the print-o-seal type (bad) or the expanded graphite (good) and what heads are you swapping to?

 

Hey! I don't know if it's a roller or not.. guessing not. It's a 74 out of a Maverick.
I'm using Felpro gaskets that came with the engine. Not sure what they're made of, but they are black with orange letter and say no sealant needed on them.
They are allegedly Mustang GT heads.. who really knows anymore lol
Thanks for all the help! Was missing a couple of head bolts so I have til tomorrow to decide exactly what to do. And then I learn Pushrods!!!! YAAAAAAYYY!!!! bananaman:bananaman

 

Not a roller block then. As for the gaskets, good luck with em. Those are the POS (Print-O-Seal) gaskets. Worst gaskets Felpro ever designed. Mustang GT heads, would then be iron E7TE castings. Get a set of the 86-95 expanded graphite head gaskets if you absolutely do not want leaks later on.

 

Well if they'll get the job done I might just have to use these and worry about that down the road. I gotta get these on there. Thanks for the input tho! I know for next time.

 

if it's too big for RTV, it's too big for a gasket...