I finally got back under the hood of my GS the other day and took the drivers side head off. I was having an issue with zero compression in the #1 cylinder and kinda put the car away for the winter. (I was very aggravated) I found the problem (I think). I had dropped the head when I originally put it back on last summer, and a the guide pin in the block had gotten crushed a bit and the head didn't seat correctly. Apparently the pin was widened at the top and the head only seated part of the way and left a bit of a gap for the compression to escape. Either that, or there was water in the bottom of the head bolt holes and the head didn't torque down correctly. These are the only things that I can speculate that would cause my issue, as I had had originally thought that the intake valve was not seating properly but it looks okay. o No: Anyway, after my long story, the questions that I have is can I reuse the intake manifold/valley pan, if I spread sealant around the holes? I'm not wanting to use it permanently, I'm just trying to get it back to the point where I can get the motor spun up and get a compression check done on it and see if it seems like it is going to run right. If the head is sealing and the motor will run, I will take the gasket back off and replace it with a new one. The gaskets are $23 a piece and if there is a way to keep from having to spend another $23 for a test, I want to do it. :laugh:
I have had good luck re-using the pan gasket a second time on 350's. As long as it is clean and not bent out of shape. Good luck, hope your motor problem is solved
you're talking about the metal "bath tup" one right? I reused mine and havn't noticed any problems, just make sure you seal it up with silicone or whatever worked for you the first time.
Yes, you can reuse the intake manifold/valley pan if it is the steel one. Clean up all surfaces really well and use a spray or brush on gasket coating. NEVER USE SILICONE on the valley pan where it may contact fuel vapors. Pete
I have reused mine up to 5 times. I clean it thoroughly with lacquer thinner then spray both sides with Permatex copper sealer.
A mechanic at a garage I worked at used to do it often if the old gasket was in good shape. These were mostly newer cars, and thus newer gaskets.
Well, that ship has sailed as far as trying it without the manifold on there. I had an issue with fuel dripping down the fuel line, right to the front housing, where the distributor sits. I had forgotten to remove the coil wire from the coil and left it hanging by the block. (Can you see where this is going?) I cranked the motor over a couple of times to get the compression check and WHOOOOMP!! There went a fireball in the engine bay!!! I just about sh** my pants!! I grabbed the fire extinguisher, and of course over the winter it went dead. I ended up grabbing the rags that were burning with gas all over them, with a pair of vice grips and got them on the floor and stomped hem out. The gas burned off the motor, and didn't do anything other than leave soot all over the distributor cap. Everything was fine after I ran the exhaust fans. I have to motor back together, but am having a problem, but I'll post that in a few minutes on another thread.
