hi all again,
im now ready to replace the head gasket, i got a torque wrench and everything in preparation, i now need to know wat else i need in preparation to do this job.. im removing the head and i want to clean all the old engine oil off the inner workings before i add new engine oil.. is degreaser ok to do this??? or should i soak it in something else like kerosine?? do i wash it off after and let it dry before reoiling or wat? i have to order a owners mannual off the net then ill probly stop asking such stupid questions.... but thank you for any input... any additional advise about changing a head gaskett would also be highly appreciated
-thank you
Oz

carby cleaner and a green kitchen scotch brite work ok on the combustion chambers and ports you can use degreaser too just clean everything up in some petrol afterward then dry it and give it a light oiling when you are ready to put it back together.
Make sure when you pull the push rods out to place them down in the order they came out, since they are happy already in that order!
C.R.C gasket stripper works fantastic on disolving old gasket gunk.
be careful with the torque wrench when you put the head back on I have seen my mate snap a stud when torqing down a head on a gemini, apparently the KINGCHROME wrench which was brand new was out of calibration! he tried to torque the head down to 60ftlb and ping she broke off! but with a bit of drilling and stud extraction we were back on the road later that day!

thanks blowfly thats great help right there

while we're handing out the free advice- torque it down in stages (the instructions on the gasket kit will probably tell you to anyways) and make sure there is no oil in the bolt holes. I was torqueing down a bluebird head once and had forgotten to check the bolt holes....... one of the bolts just felt spongy and sprang back as I tried totighten it. The oil in the bottom of the holes had caused a hydraulic lock-up. spewing cos they are OHC so a more difficult job all round. had to slowly soak up all the oil with a rag on a bit of wire- took almost as long as removing the head again.

I wonder if that was why my mate snapped a head stud....hmmmmm nah the tension wrench should have clicked before that

also a power drill and wire brush accessories will make short work of cleaning the exterior of the block, timing cover, engine mounts, rocker cover and air filter assembly!

easy-off oven cleaner does a good job of cutting that old crust out off the chambers too.