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header gasket leak [message #107916] Wed, 08 December 2010 13:03 Go to next message
jayrabe is currently offline  jayrabe   United States
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Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
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Finally summoned the courage to do this job, and it was indeed as people had said - pretty easy. Huge thanks to all the GMCers who offered tips and encouragement, and especially to Jim Hupy for his phone consultation.

Ended up getting a Remflex gasket and put in new grade-5 bolts with anti-seize. Got a bottom tap to clean the threads, but could only get it into one of the 5 holes due to the header in the way. Could only get the torque wrench on one of the bolts, so torqued it to 15 and estimated the rest.

Whole job took less than two hours, and that included a trip to Napa! After this learning curve I could probably do it again in an hour. Short test drive and getting on the gas, as much as Portland's wet streets would allow, had no sign of leak noise at all. Very cool. I'm starting to feel like a mechanic! well, apprentice anyway.

Discovered that the shop that fixed the leak in May did not use a gasket on reassembly. Jim tells me that's not unusual. There was some evidence of some sealant, but not much, so cleaning it was easy, well, other than the awkwardness of body position and viewing angle with the header only dropped down about an inch. Had to use a mirror and flashlight to see what I was doing.

All in all not too bad a job. Definitely going to build a set of boards to span the engine compartment per suggestion! Should have done that first!

Thanks and thanks again to everyone. Smile

J
76 PB
Portland, OR

Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107917 is a reply to message #107916] Wed, 08 December 2010 13:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ljdavick is currently offline  ljdavick   United States
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Jay said: "Definitely going to build a set of boards to span the engine compartment..."

I just use the hatch cover if I'm working on the front of the engine. Slide it back and lean away.

Larry Davick
Fremont, California
The Mystery Machine
'76 (ish) Palm Beach

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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107922 is a reply to message #107917] Wed, 08 December 2010 13:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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Doing a happy dance for you J. We can all so more than we think we can. I often dread a 10 minute chore for a week or longer.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107923 is a reply to message #107922] Wed, 08 December 2010 13:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cbwoodsr is currently offline  cbwoodsr   United States
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But she finally makes you do it , right??


CBWood
77 Kingslay
MWC OK
ONLINE PARTS PROGRAM
www.GMCMHParts.com

Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107926 is a reply to message #107923] Wed, 08 December 2010 13:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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CBWoodSR wrote on Wed, 08 December 2010 13:46

But she finally makes you do it , right??



LOL, yea, sometimes.


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: header gasket leak [message #107930 is a reply to message #107916] Wed, 08 December 2010 15:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RadioActiveGMC is currently offline  RadioActiveGMC   United States
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Thats really awesome.

***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia- Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107955 is a reply to message #107916] Wed, 08 December 2010 21:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
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Make sure you did not tighten the top center bolt

On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Finally summoned the courage to do this job, and it was indeed as people had said - pretty easy. Huge thanks to all the GMCers who offered tips and encouragement, and especially to Jim Hupy for his phone consultation.
>
> Ended up getting a Remflex gasket and put in new grade-5 bolts with anti-seize. Got a bottom tap to clean the threads, but could only get it into one of the 5 holes due to the header in the way. Could only get the torque wrench on one of the bolts, so torqued it to 15 and estimated the rest.
>
> Whole job took less than two hours, and that included a trip to Napa! After this learning curve I could probably do it again in an hour. Short test drive and getting on the gas, as much as Portland's wet streets would allow, had no sign of leak noise at all. Very cool. I'm starting to feel like a mechanic! well, apprentice anyway.
>
> Discovered that the shop that fixed the leak in May did not use a gasket on reassembly. Jim tells me that's not unusual. There was some evidence of some sealant, but not much, so cleaning it was easy, well, other than the awkwardness of body position and viewing angle with the header only dropped down about an inch. Had to use a mirror and flashlight to see what I was doing.
>
> All in all not too bad a job. Definitely going to build a set of boards to span the engine compartment per suggestion! Should have done that first!
>
> Thanks and thanks again to everyone.  :)
>
> J
> 76 PB
> Portland, OR
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] header gasket leak [message #107957 is a reply to message #107955] Wed, 08 December 2010 21:52 Go to previous message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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jimk wrote on Wed, 08 December 2010 21:21

Make sure you did not tighten the top center bolt



Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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I will second that. No center bolts on mine and no leaks.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
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