Metal Head Gasket

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Metal Head Gasket
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If you have a boat trailer or have changed the spare tire on your car, a torque wrench is a required tool and is simple to use . Most people believe that "the tighter the better" is the way to go. Your average person will simply grab an impact wrench and tighten away. This is not the correct way to apply torque to your wheels or other critical fasteners. Too much torque can add stress to a lug nut and cause it to shear off. Also with head bolts, the torque on those bolts determines the amount of clamping force on the gasket. Over tightening those bolts can crush the gasket or distort the metal. The better way to apply the correct amount of foot pounds of torque is to use an accurate torque wrench.

There are several different types of torque wrenches available out there. One type is the torque wrench with a dial indicator built into it. The dial indicates how many foot lbs of torque is being applied. Dial types are generally more accurate and easier to read. This model is generally the choice of professional mechanics where accurate measurement is necessary. The dial indicator is more precise and is easier to read. Some are available with a light or buzzer to indicate when a preset torque value is achieved. Another variation is the clicking type torque wrench. These are probably the most popular and readily available. This torque wrench makes a clicking sound when the preset torque is reached. This lets you know to stop applying force to the nut you are fastening and move to the next one. For most uses these type of wrenches work just fine and are rugged and easy to use. For the person who always the latest gadget, there are LED and LCD models available as well. The display shows the precise foot lbs of torque. These can usually switch between SAE and Metric as well. For most garage mechanics and home owners, the clicking type torque wrench is the best choice.

Just remember to always check the manufacturer specs for the recommended torque. Next time, you need to tighten the nuts on your boat trailer, put down the impact wrench and grab a torque wrench.

Jason has been in the construction equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years. He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the automotive and industrial industries. - Automotive Tools

Dealing with Stripped Head Bolts on a Northstar Engine

If you own a Cadillac STS engine Deville 97 with a 32 valve 4.6L Northstar Engine that has a blown engine, a pressure and spark plug test will usually reveal that you have blown a head gasket. This occurs because of the stripped head bolts common in early models of the Northstar Engines. To fix it, you have to figure what bank it's on and get it replaced.

Unfortunately, it's expensive to get a Northstar Engine with a blown head gasket fixed. The task is complicated and time-draining to do it on your own. Stripped head bolts on a Northstar Engine are rather common from the models that came out in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

After this time, GM finally figured out how to resolve the issue, although some critics argue that it actually took GM a full ten years before they fully resolved the issue. The majority of issues, however, have declined since 2000, and it is usually the models between 1997 to 1999 that were most affected.

What happened in the earlier models is that the coolant was switched from a green-silica base to Dex Cool. When this new coolant was not perfectly maintained, the steel head bolts were stripped because of the metallic reaction to the soft aluminum block.

It remains a mystery why GM made a decision to move away from the block hardening process that was standard in 1997. Automotive experts estimate that the head bolts begin to strip around the 90,000 to 100,000 mile mark.

Unfortunately, even if you are an expert mechanic or have access to a reliable one, you can't simply use some hand tools and get the job done for a few hundred dollars. Instead, the entire engine block has to be removed, drilled and retapped. Then timeserts have to be installed. Once the head gasket is blown, it is usually necessary to get a new gasket rather than fix the gasket. Another factor to consider is the expert use of cam timing to get the job done well. This means that the work costs thousands. Given that the earlier models are only worth about $6,000 today, it means that the repairs can come close to the cost of the car itself. It can take up to 40 hours or more to get all this done and it can cost an average of $4,000.

The problem of stripped bolts in the block is a nightmare…not only for the car owner, who has to shell out the big bucks, but also for the mechanic involved in repairing the damage. Many less experienced mechanics have botched up the repair process completely.

About the Author

It is not an easy job to have a head gasket replacement on a Northstar Engine. Thus, rather than getting the problem fixed a better solution is to simply swap out the engines for a used engine with reinforced head bolts. It costs a lot to get it fixed properly and it's difficult to find an expert at it, so the better solution is to get a used engine.

best method for removing gasket material?

I've got a chevy 4.3 liter I am replacing the head gasket and the passenger side head. I am having a hell of a time removing the paper/metal gasket material of the intake gasket using a razor blade and a scraper. The gasket remover spray I have won't even touch it. Anyone have any better methods of gasket removal? It's a steel head and block. The intake is aluminum but most of the gasket is stuck to the head so I'm not too worried about that.

keep your razor sharp by replacing it often. And, get a cleaner that removes graffiti, tar, etc. and let it soak in for several minutes. Also, get a wire brush wheel for your electric drill and power brush the gasket away.

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