Head gasket question

[blakjak220]

Soooo.. I've spent several hours searching around for the answer and haven't been able to find it so here goes... and thanks in advance for the help

I got a 1989 BII, 2.9L, auto, 4WD
Head cracked (imagine that) so I tore it down, got the old head machined, bought a new head
When I went to put the new head gasket on there about 50% of the holes that correspond to the coolant circuits aren't there in the new gasket
So it effectively covers up most of the coolant channels...
I called the parts store where I got it (Advanced) and they say that it's the correct part, but that doesn't seem right to me...
It's part #9510 if that helps and it's the Felpro head gasket kit that comes with the valve cover gaskets and all that jazz...
I found one thread where someone used this and then had overheating problems once they got it back together... of course that doesnt necessarily mean it's the wrong one but....

Anyway, anyone have any suggestions?

 

[baddis]

compare it to your old gasket?

 

[geck0]

is that the number on the headgasket set box or just a headgasket itself???

 

[blakjak220]

compare it to your old gasket?

yep, the old gasket has "all" the holes... although most of them were clogged up with what looked like stop leak. The new gaskets just dont have holes at all for the water jacket around the front 4 cylinders..

is that the number on the headgasket set box or just a headgasket itself???

It's the number from the set box, which is from Advanced Auto... so that may not be any use.. I'll have to get the number off the actual gasket when I get home.

Thanks for the replies so far guys

 

[geck0]

Ok looking directly at the felpro book..

there is a LEFT HAND and RIGHT HAND GASKET

9511PT is the left side

9510PT is the RIGHT SIDE

the whole headgasket set is HS9510PT-2 YEARS 1986-92

 

[blakjak220]

Thanks man, that's right.

I don't know why I didn't think of it before but I just called Felpro and the rep said that they changed the design of the original gasket in order to restrict flow to some areas thereby increasing flow to other areas of the head... supposed to be better than the OEM gasket...

One more thing (I know, I'm a noob).. I took out one of the lifters and took it apart and there was some goop in it (I know it's supposed to have oil in it)... anyway, it seemed like a good idea to go ahead and take all of them out and clean them while I had the thing opened up..
my question is: Do I just put them back together, let them soak in motor oil overnight to fill back up, apply some assembly lube and then stick them back in? or is there something I'm missing?
Also, once I get the whole thing back together do I need to prime the internals with oil somehow?

Thanks so much for the advice guys, it's really helping me out.

 

[adsm08]

The lifters need to go back in the same spot they came out of and with the same rods they were on before. I usually coat them with some 15-40 before I put them back in.

If you've gotten them all mixed up already the potential damage to the camshaft is worth the cost of buying new ones.


Change the oil and start the engine like you normally would. It may clack and rattle for a few minutes, but don't rev it and the oil will make it's way up and get where it needs to be within the first minute.

 

[geck0]

adsm8 is right lifters are best put in same location especially for not roller cams and though not as much OHC engines. Squating the lifterw is always best (bleeding off the oil pressure) but taking them apart and cleaning does the same thing. Just make sure they are lubed (not full and hard) should be "springy" it'll clack like adsm8 said but they will fill up in a few minutes once they build up with the right pressure.

 

[blakjak220]

Alright so I had to replace one lifter since it had a very small crack in it the edge of it... but there was no wear on the bottom so I didn't bother replacing the cam and all the other lifters...

I had some trouble finding exhaust manifold bolts but finally found some at NAPA that'll work
Gonna put the heads on today and start putting it all back together..

Thanks guys.