LOL you remind me of my first experiences of sudden into to car mechanice. I had a 71 Challenger. In 74 on a snowy day drove past GF's house on way to work and at 20 mph skidded and hit a 3" wide tree head-on. Learned extensive body work after that - including welding with one of those old Sears butane things with the oxygen tablet! Decided then to do valves......and wouldn't you know it on last bolt SNAP!!!! So yea learned again - this time how to drill out a head bolt!!

 

Just ordered the bolts from NAPA, $100! Ouch I ordered the Head (gasket) set on recommendation of my machine shop. I won't do that again. $100 & I can't use half the gaskets. It comes with a 2 bbl carb gasket, who uses these?!?! no Manifold gasket, 2 sets of exh manifold gaskets I have headers), and 3 sets of water pump gaskets blech! I am now over $1000 on this repair I thought would be about $500, and I still have to buy an intake manifold gasket. On the upside, they did tell me the new ARP bolts come with lube... I'm wishin I'd bought that first....

 

Bolts came in, and now I have a question. None of the new bolts have the stud sticking out the top to attach the alternator bracket. should I use the originals on those 2, and the new bolts for everything else, or will that mess things up?

 

Clean the threads with a wire wheel or brush, lube them, and you'll be fine!!

 

Thanks guys for all your help, Cutlass Freak I appreciate the list.

I am just about ready to put the heads on, but I want to be sure of 2 things:

1: Do I have the correct head gasket? The coolant openings don't seem right to me.

2: I seem to have misplaced the ARP Head Bolt assembly Lube, can I substitute something for it? How would the substitute affect the torque I need to use on the head bolts?

Thanks again!

 

Here are the pics I forgot to post regarding my head gaskets:

Any thoughts?

 

So, how did the project end?

Time, cost memories?

Were the head gaskets correct?

I have a 68 350 engine I am doing now. You had some serious sludge build up there .....

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Sludge: My 77 was similar. I had bought it second hand. It overheated, I replaced the radiator, hoses and later on the water pump. At some point I took off the intake manifold and could not believe the build up. Years later I understand, “clotting”.

 

Hey Ron,

Project ended well, I have a great running engine now! Yes, the Head gaskets were correct. It wasn't a difficult job, but it was time consuming. Total cost, including buying the heads, & bolts & getting the heads cleaned cleaned & checked was abut $1000. Time, maybe 12-16 hours. It was a great project. Good luck with yours!

 

Man I forgot all about this thread. Glad you got it going good. Seems like everyone left you hangin' on the head gasket water passages.

 

Thanks Cutlass Freak! It was a fun, if not occasionally frustrating project. Due to health and personal issues I haven't had time to jump back in & get anything meaningful done in about 2 years, but hope to be able to get something done in the spring and or fall

 

I hear you on that account. I haven't done much on my Cutlass either and sometimes get the itch. It is good to know that the project turned out well, good for you.

 

In shop class,my old teacher told us to use tranny fuild. But this is when the car is running, give her throttle and dump the fluid down the carb. Talk about a smoke show