Is This Enough Sealer for the Head Gasket?

[Tom Wesenberg]

This is another classic picture for the "wall of shame" for wanna be mechanics.

In the 60's I bought a 265 Chevy V8 with overdrive from a Ford mechanic at the local dealership. He said the engine was just rebuilt, so I took it apart to check, and I found all 8 pistons in the wrong holes and 5 of the pistons were facing backwards.

In the 70's I worked at a dealership with a guy that didn't use protectors on the rod studs when he installed the pistons. The nicks he put in the crank had the engine locked up. When someone told him what he did wrong, he fixed it by taking a file to the gouges.

In the 80's I worked at another dealership where the "mechanic" didn't mark any of the rods and caps, and had them mixed up when he put a Buick straight 8 back together. That engine wouldn't turn over until he spent considerable time rearranging the caps.

Know your mechanic if you don't do your own work. No shame in not knowing something, but at least make an attempt to learn.

[Mitch//pa]

I'm speechless

[George Miller]

Wow and not even the right sealer.

[Russ/40]

Good grief . . . . . .

[Binger]

Looks like enough sealer for 3 teenagers Cameros!!

[Bob C]

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I don't need no stinking gasket.

Bob

[Cockshutt Kid]

You won't have to re torque the head with all that "elastic " silicone in there. Probably a time saving measure!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

These images of a 4.6 Ford actually surfaced on a Facebook group that I participate in, and the shop owner was saying you could not believe just how much of this was down inside of the water jackets & oil galleys too. The talk was there probably was not THAT much sealer used (YOU define exactly how much sealer equals "THAT" ) since much of it was displaced when the head was clamped down. Oh BTW, the engine owner only brought it in because he wanted some help installing new camshaft.

[Flathead]

Yeah that sounds about right. All good here, now about that camshaft.

[hardtimes]

Hey Tom,

Looks about 'right', but he missed a spot !
Geeze, that color is all wrong in the engine bay color scheme

[burner31]

Another good example of why you DON'T pop that first beer until AFTER you are done.

[dennis lumbert]

Saw the same silicone treatment performed on a honda carb float bowl gasket that was towed into my shop years ago. dennis

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by dennis lumbert

Saw the same silicone treatment performed on a honda carb float bowl gasket that was towed into my shop years ago. dennis

I had to overhaul a Vega carb years ago after someone put Loctite on all the assembly screws. Then a few years later I also had to do a valve job on a Model A where someone had used some kind of super adhesive on both side of the head gasket. That was the worst part I ever had to remove, as far as being stuck in place.

[Flathead]

On the Vega Loctite carb screws there was an actual Chevrolet Service Bulletin to use green Loctite on the carb airhorn screws. This was on the earlier Vegas with the Rochester 2GC carb. I can't remember if the one barrels were included too. They had the heavy throw-away type AC air filter assembly and with the typical engine shaking the top of the carbs would loosen up big time. I worked for a Chevy Dealer at that time and I knew far too much about the wonderful Vega and it's "Highly advanced overhead cam engine" to quote GM.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I also had to do a valve job on a Model A where someone had used some kind of super adhesive on both side of the head gasket. That was the worst part I ever had to remove, as far as being stuck in place.

I agree!! I cannot begin to tell you just how many valve covers that have been cracked, --and oil pans distorted because a previous mechanic used that yellow trim adhesive on both sides of the gasket before installing it on the block! Sure does test your religion when that happens!!

[Bruce Lancaster]

But on that new camshaft...seems they NEVER include the camshaft gaskets in the blasted kits, so better use a BUNCH of sealer on that thing. Otherwise, all of your clearances are going to leak out!

[Patrick L.]

Its absolutely amazing what some people do and some have the nerve to call themselves mechanics, or, in our politically correct world, technicians.

Just when you think you've just about seen it all, something like that comes along.

There is an easy way to fix a Vega. Just take out that masterpiece of an engine and sell it for scrap. Then stuff in a 350. Well, its not easy, but, its not too hard.

[William Kelchner]

While we are bashing the Vega - I bought one new in 76 took it to Liberia, only 20 miles of paved road in the country - dirt roads, monsoon rains for months on end, brake drums would become packed with mud and lock up but the little Vega survived 4 years. I agree tho that it was not an engineering wonder.....

[Brian T]

The last repair shop I worked at we named a section the Bates Motel, need I say more.

[Keith True]

I was still working on cars when the Vega came out.I quit working on cars when they stopped making the Vega.I remember the throttle plate screw problems.They had a spec for the Loctite,I think it was one that would loosen up easily with a touch of heat from a torch.I still have a Lisle tool to hold the valves open to slide the camshaft in.I don't think they used a valve cover gasket,just a bead of goop.I liked the Vega CAR,but didn't like the engine.I liked the Pinto engine,but didn't like the car.A shop that does hydraulic work for me has an El Camino with a 302 Ford engine in it.The owner hates Rancheros,but likes Ford engines.He loves El Caminos,but hates Chevy engines.He's been driving it for over 20 years.