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is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI #1285098 08/14/12 12:40 AM 08/14/12 12:40 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru domingo OP EL Master
domingo OP EL Master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru	Hi! I have a HEMI that was completely rebuilt but that was a few years ago....like 4....and its been sitting since... I have turned it by hand every now and then, but probably not as often as I should have.... Its got a solid roller cam (mild under 600 lift). I am worried that the springs might have gone bad, so I want to take em off to test them....but for doing that I need to take off the heads... I was wondering if I take off the heads to inspect,,,,will I be able to reuse those head gaskets??? The engine has never been fired, but the heads were torqued to spec.... I dont know if it makes any difference, but its got head studs.

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: domingo] #1285099 08/14/12 01:53 AM 08/14/12 01:53 AM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 6,446 NJ-USA H HPMike master
HPMike master H Joined: May 2005 Posts: 6,446 NJ-USA	Quote: Hi! I have a HEMI that was completely rebuilt but that was a few years ago....like 4....and its been sitting since... I have turned it by hand every now and then, but probably not as often as I should have.... Its got a solid roller cam (mild under 600 lift). I am worried that the springs might have gone bad, so I want to take em off to test them....but for doing that I need to take off the heads... I was wondering if I take off the heads to inspect,,,,will I be able to reuse those head gaskets??? The engine has never been fired, but the heads were torqued to spec.... I dont know if it makes any difference, but its got head studs. I think you are worrying too much...I bet it would be 100% fine.. If you want to put your mind at rest, air up a few cylinders and pull a few springs and check them out. There are tools designed to remove hemi valve springs without unloading the head studs. I wouldn't take the heads off. That's just me. Was thins motor sealed up good? Id be more concerned with a mouse making a nest in there if the motor wasnt sealed off well. MB

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: HPMike] #1285100 08/14/12 11:27 AM 08/14/12 11:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru domingo OP EL Master
domingo OP EL Master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru	Yes, it was sealed up good. With duct tape on the ports....and with plugs installed. INtake also taped. I dont have the tool to remove the springs without taking the heads out.... So, will the head gasket be unseable if I take a head off???? Like I said, the engine has never been fired.

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: domingo] #1285101 08/14/12 12:00 PM 08/14/12 12:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,505 TN S SCATPACK 1 pro stock
SCATPACK 1 pro stock S Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,505 TN	What kind of head gaskets? Has it ever been started and been warmed up? IF you have never started it and the springs have never been heat cycled, then I would not worry about them. Old Geezer Racing

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: SCATPACK 1] #1285102 08/14/12 12:22 PM 08/14/12 12:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru domingo OP EL Master
domingo OP EL Master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,670 Lima, Peru	ENGINE HAS NEVER EVER BEEN STARTED. But its been sitting close to 4 years, I have turned it by hand every now and then.....but probably not as often as I should have.... Lifters are crowers solid rollers. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRO-66232-16/ Springs are PSI 1240. THEY ARE BRAND NEW, NEVER BEEN HEAT CYCLED- http://www.cvproducts.com/ProdDet.aspx?PN=PSICT1240 Dual Spring O.D. 1.500 Seat Pressure-250@2.030" Outside Spring I.D. 1.085 Open Pressure-610@1.250" I.D. .795 Max Lift .780 Coil Bind 1.200 The cam is a mild steer solid roller off Dave Dudeks Old Challenger when it ran low 11s at 127 mph. COMP solid roller Intake- 248@.050& .604lift >Exhaust- 254@.050 & .591lift >Lobe sep is 114 >lobe #`s: 4875B/4876B sn#-A6105 Head gaskets are composite, not steel. Domingo

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: domingo] #1285103 08/14/12 12:28 PM 08/14/12 12:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 51 Texas C ChristianCuda member
ChristianCuda member C Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 51 Texas	Composite gaskets usually will leave some material on the head or deck surface due to compression from the heads being torqued on. If it were the steel gaskets then I wouldn't worry about it.

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: ChristianCuda] #1285104 08/14/12 02:10 PM 08/14/12 02:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	You worry too much. Run the doggone engine. Or if it is going to sit for longer, pull the rocker assemblies. But for a decent spring sitting for a decade shouldn't make a difference. No fatigue cycles. R.

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: dogdays] #1285105 08/14/12 04:40 PM 08/14/12 04:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California mickm master
mickm master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California	i asked the guy at cometic and he said that if the engine hasn't been started, you are fine to reuse them. i would assume that goes for any head gasket. i have seen threads on here where people are talking about reusing gaskets that have been run, and many people have said that works as well. sounds like you are good to go

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: mickm] #1285106 08/14/12 06:48 PM 08/14/12 06:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 12 MN 7 73outlaw member
73outlaw member 7 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 12 MN	I would only reuse a mls or copper gasket and I would NOT reuse a composite head gasket EVER. 7335317-EP07-0105.jpg (61 downloads)

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: 73outlaw] #1285107 08/14/12 10:40 PM 08/14/12 10:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada R RUNCHARGER I Live Here
RUNCHARGER I Live Here R Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada	Why chance it? I'd back off the rockers until you're ready to use it. Sheldon

Re: is it OK to reuse head gasket? HEMI [Re: HPMike] #1285108 08/14/12 11:45 PM 08/14/12 11:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 914 tn R robnbird super stock
robnbird super stock R Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 914 tn	Quote: Quote: Hi! I have a HEMI that was completely rebuilt but that was a few years ago....like 4....and its been sitting since... I have turned it by hand every now and then, but probably not as often as I should have.... Its got a solid roller cam (mild under 600 lift). I am worried that the springs might have gone bad, so I want to take em off to test them....but for doing that I need to take off the heads... I was wondering if I take off the heads to inspect,,,,will I be able to reuse those head gaskets??? The engine has never been fired, but the heads were torqued to spec.... I dont know if it makes any difference, but its got head studs. I think you are worrying too much...I bet it would be 100% fine.. If you want to put your mind at rest, air up a few cylinders and pull a few springs and check them out. There are tools designed to remove hemi valve springs without unloading the head studs. I wouldn't take the heads off. That's just me. you can change the spring w/o removing the heads. Was thins motor sealed up good? Id be more concerned with a mouse making a nest in there if the motor wasnt sealed off well. MB 7335671-hemiin0708-12.jpg (126 downloads)

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