Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Can I reuse a head gasket ?

[Valv]

Installed head after rebuilt, missed to set 1 pushrod and bent it, removed head to replace.



Can I reuse the already torqued once new head gasket or do I have to get another new one ? It will save me $ 100. 00

 

[ctd8999]

Look it at real good to make sure you did not put any type of nicks or other marks in it. You do know there are rubber plugs in the cowl that come out to remove and install back push rods ?? I'd think it should be alright, wipe gasket and block to make sure they are clean. Just my . 02. Thanks Steve B.

 

[Valv]

Yep, I found out about these already,a little too late when I removed it, but I discovered it while re-installing.

 

[JFaughn]

In the some yrs past the buget racers would reuse them depending on condition , but a lot depends on the gasget , the ones I refur to were copper on both sides , a lot of the after market will seperate when remomved - do not use if that happens , so when you get apart and if there is no damage , then it could work.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

seriously, why risk it?

 

[Valv]

In the some yrs past the buget racers would reuse them depending on condition

Oohhhh, I love the old timer racers... . they knew how to make things run back then... . Oo.

seriously, why risk it?

Because today is friday, local dealers don't have any, and closest I can get one is tuesday, I want to close the hood tomorrow.



The old one goes back in, I'll let you know in few months (or days, or hours... ) if it worked out good... . :-laf

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I wouldn't reuse it, you're asking for trouble. Chances of it leaking are pretty high. I bought my marine HG from Cummins for $85. Are you using a Cummins HG? If you happen to have used a Fel Pro then you'll want to replace it for sure (they're not very good).



Vaughn

 

[RacinDuallie]

I'm with Vaughn on this one.

 

[Nate]

So you torqued down the head and then noticied? Has the truck been run??



I'd reuse it the truck hasn't been run for sure.

 

[DJWyckoff]

I'm in the middle of doing gasket #2 because I dident cut the head and after doing this again Its all new for me no doubt. a tow bill is more than than that trust me!

 

[CumminsPower98]

I would probably go new if it was mine but I do fully understand where you are coming from. I have reused two HGs in my time. First one was an old VW rabbit Diesel I rebuilt. I put it together and had an external coolant leak. I removed it and sprayed it down real heavy with silver/aluminum paint. It worked out fine and fixed the leak. The second one was an old John Deere 3020 Diesel tractor I rebuilt. The head had been welded because of real bad rust pitting and got some splatter up into one or two injector holes. I didn't notice this until the head was torqued. So I removed it, fixed the problem and reluctantly put it back together and it has run for many many years. This was back when I was just out of high school. Anyway, probably more then you wanted to know...

 

[TBurow]

here's the best question, is it worth $100. 00 to not have to worry if its messed up, and to have to pull it back off a third time? i would go new, i would gladly pay $100. 00 not to have to do it all over again.