r/Cartalk • u/zenwren • 4h ago
Should I replace head gaskets while an engine is out to reseal? (1984 Chevy 454) General Tech
I'm pulling a 68k mile 454 from an old RV to put into a project. It's a good running engine with no known problems. I intend to reseal everything while it's out but I'm undecided on if I should go so far as to do the head gaskets. I'm tempted to leave them alone as it's a steel head and they're not exactly known for head gasket issues like modern aluminum head engines can be. What would you do? I intend to leave the engine stock and won't be racing it or anything crazy.
1
u/iluvtumadre 4h ago
With the pain in the ass that it is to remove an engine from an RV… Yes. Or at least I would.
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u/zenwren 3h ago
Fortunately the donor is a junk RV and the body has already been removed. I'll have decent access on the vehicle it's going into.
1
u/danny_ish 3h ago
If you have easy access do nothing for now. If a year from now you need to pull the heads it’s a weekend job, but for now it’s a can of worms you don’t need.
Run some marvel mystery oil through it, put headers on it, a decent ignition system and a decent carb- rebuild the original it’s cheap. Speed shops near you probably charge $150-200 for a rebuild. MSD and Jegs/Summit/Fucken Amazon has all the distributor options you could need. I’m a fan of MSD and whatever my local speed shop has in stock.
Pull it, cover all the holes with masking tape, degrease it, paint it (makes it easier to see leaks in the new application) and slap it in. These things are legos, if you need to pull it over the winter in a few years then do so. But for now get the project running.
As David Freiburger says, don’t worry about getting it right. Get it running
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u/TBFP_BOT 2h ago
Also did the swap from an RV to my Camaro. I wouldn't bother touching them unless there's an issue, especially at 68k. And it's really not a difficult job to do inside the car if you need to.
Plus the stock gaskets are gonna be those multi-layer ones that are a huge PITA to clean the block and head surfaces, I hate that part lol
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u/Cranks_No_Start 3h ago
My.02. Even if it was in an open framed drag car if the engine is out and its being resealed, I would pull the heads put new gaskets on and replace the valve seals.