I am going to try and replace a head gasket this weekend and I was curious for anybody that has done this, do I need any special tools to get to the head and when I get down there and look at the gasket what exactly do I look for to verify that is a bad gasket and not a cracked head?

Why are you doing this? Get a FSM before you take it apart.

take the head to a machine shop and have it checked out (magnafluxed). Theres no reason to go through all that trouble w/o checking the head, thats crazy.

I either have a cracked head or a bad head gasket that is why I am taking it apart. I have a FSM but that book was made for Nissan mechanics and it goes over my head sometimes. I have limited knowledge of taking apart an re-assembling a SR20 and was just wanting so tips or tricks that the FSM might not tell me.

Can you magnaflux an Aluminum head???





Originally posted by jon3k
take the head to a machine shop and have it checked out (magnafluxed). Theres no reason to go through all that trouble w/o checking the head, thats crazy.

Originally posted by Probedude
Can you magnaflux an Aluminum head???

No. They use a special dye and black light procedure. Do a hunt for "zyglo" on google. Any good engine shop shouldn't have a problem doing this.

Refer to the FSM for EVERYTHING. It may seem over your head but when you start tearing in to it it will all make sense. First and foremost get the car on stands and get the motor rotated to #1 TDC. THEN you can take it apart ;)

Good luck

Personally, doing the head gasket is pretty straight forward. One of things is you definitely need is a torque wrench. As well as a 10mm torques bit. You might need a couple of them as you may break it considering you have to turn the head bolts 180 degrees after its torqued to 90lbs already? Its something like taht and I broke 3 of them before it was finally done, so good luck.