Q`s about head gaskets and reeds.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by 76Red18

Hey Sandy pull it apart and check em. Go ahead and buy a complete gasket kit. I found one for less than $200. Your reeds should be good. You don't want any clearance between the reeds and their seats on the cage. Your head gaskets are o-rings. Replace them and the thermostat seals in the heads. A tiny ring of Brp sealant around all the little holes in the block decks and your set.

While your in there clean the carbon off the tops of the pistons and have a look your cylinder walls. Gives you a good idea of the wear on your motor. Get an inside micrometer and see how round or hopefully not out of round the bores are.

I was kind of wanting to replace mine with Boysens...

Clean the screen in the pisser. I didn't know there was one in there. Mine was a little dirty and might have made it run a little warm. Don't know why.

Don't be afraid to tear into this motor if the fasteners arn't corroded. I think I could probably strip mine to the short block in 30 minutes.

Thanks Rich. The motor is clean. The T stat seals are swelling. Can they stop the salt shakers from opening? Can I reuse the head bolts?

Denny,
Thanks, as always. She starts and runs nicely, if a bit thirsty. I decarb every year and highly recommend it to others. I hear you on the exhaust ports. Ping goes the ring.

Why do I keep extending my to do list?

I don`t have any real problem with the motor, but I will gladly extend her life if I can. I will run old smokers as long as they don`t legislate me off to a reservation in Arizona.

Thanks all,
GFS

[76Red18]

I reused my head bolts. Clean them, run a tap in the holes in the deck, a little marine grease on the threads, 85 ftlbs ( Check the specs for your year. Mines a 99 ), bolt pattern is stamped on the heads.

Check that timing.. One or two degrees retarded make her extra thirsty.