Beltfed
Enthusiast
Yes I’ve read a lot of old threads and they always go off track. And some are really old, so im asking my own, specific questions. 96 GTS, just turned 40k miles.
It’s had a Roe on it since 2012. I recently did gen 3/4 rockers, vale springs and new pushrods for the new rockers. I replaced the factory radiator last summer due to it leaking from the core. I ended up with a Be Cool radiator. Fast forward, it always ran a bit warmer with the new radiator, up to 225 under hard driving and would go back down quickly when I back off the boost. It was much more stable with the factory radiator. This last weekend, while legit, gently cruising, the engine temp light came on and it started to boil over. Was able to pull over and turn it off basically immediately. Towed it home, and figured it was the water pump or thermostat. It was neither, both look great and work. Set the pump off for a rebuild and new t stat in the way. I also ordered a Howe radiator from Bobby.
So while Ive got the supercharger and intake off, I’m wondering if I should do head gaskets. I have no idea if they are original or not, I can see they have metal on each side of a center section. But I’m wondering if a head gasket is the reason for the sudden over heat? There’s been zero coolant leaks the last year with the new radiator, but I do get some white smoke at start up every once in a while, not all the time. Talked to A&C and a few other companies today about a port and polish job while the heads are off, ANOTHER $5k just *****. Here’s the questions;
1. Can I reuse the gen 2 head studs? And if these are MLS gaskets, that means they’ve been used once already.
2. Do I have to have the heads decked/surfaced?
3. I LITERALLY just put in all new pushrods, with a new head gasket (and maybe decked), I’ll have to get new pushrods.
4. If I DONT have to deck and surface the heads, is there a head gasket to thickness to match what’s on there now so I can reuse the new pushrods?
5. I can see some slight oil on the valves, I’d assume valve guides are worn? I just did all new valve guide seals with the gen 3/4 vale springs.
It’s had a Roe on it since 2012. I recently did gen 3/4 rockers, vale springs and new pushrods for the new rockers. I replaced the factory radiator last summer due to it leaking from the core. I ended up with a Be Cool radiator. Fast forward, it always ran a bit warmer with the new radiator, up to 225 under hard driving and would go back down quickly when I back off the boost. It was much more stable with the factory radiator. This last weekend, while legit, gently cruising, the engine temp light came on and it started to boil over. Was able to pull over and turn it off basically immediately. Towed it home, and figured it was the water pump or thermostat. It was neither, both look great and work. Set the pump off for a rebuild and new t stat in the way. I also ordered a Howe radiator from Bobby.
So while Ive got the supercharger and intake off, I’m wondering if I should do head gaskets. I have no idea if they are original or not, I can see they have metal on each side of a center section. But I’m wondering if a head gasket is the reason for the sudden over heat? There’s been zero coolant leaks the last year with the new radiator, but I do get some white smoke at start up every once in a while, not all the time. Talked to A&C and a few other companies today about a port and polish job while the heads are off, ANOTHER $5k just *****. Here’s the questions;
1. Can I reuse the gen 2 head studs? And if these are MLS gaskets, that means they’ve been used once already.
2. Do I have to have the heads decked/surfaced?
3. I LITERALLY just put in all new pushrods, with a new head gasket (and maybe decked), I’ll have to get new pushrods.
4. If I DONT have to deck and surface the heads, is there a head gasket to thickness to match what’s on there now so I can reuse the new pushrods?
5. I can see some slight oil on the valves, I’d assume valve guides are worn? I just did all new valve guide seals with the gen 3/4 vale springs.
