replacing head gasket (archive)

After removing the upper timing cover, can it be replaced without renewing the gasket around the cover? THis might be a moot question because I am not sure whether the upper and lower timing cover gasket are one piece, so I should have asked that first, but it's late and I'm too lazy to cut and paste.

I am doing the head gasket replacement strictly as preventative maintenance. And I need to rebuild my head, but I just can't do it yet. I need any advice regarding the stupidity of this manuever. I have a cross country drive, well, Portland, OR to Denver, CO, to do this summer and I don't want to blow my head gasket. Am I just fooling myself to think that I'll be ok if this is all the major stuff I do?

A little info about my car. Burns some oil, leaks some oil, about 1/4 of a quart every 500-600 mi. No oil in coolant, no coolant in oil. Haven't done a compression check, but she pulls smooth and rarely rev to 5500-6000. Last MPG check was around 22mpg in the city, and I usually accelerate under full load. So I figure all that isn't bad with 276K on the odo, where most of the miles were put on on the freeway, before I got the car.

I appreciate any advice. And I promise, once I get settled in CO, I am going to get another motor, hopefully a 77-79, to rebuild like Paul's. I just need to get there.

TIA,

Mark

P.S. and I will not be jynxing myself by pasting a "CO or Bust" sticker on my bumper.

Follow Ups:

Re: You ARE doing the head gasket now ?......... Teaguer 02:37 4/06/2001 (3)
- Re: You ARE doing the head gasket now ?......... Mark 12:20 4/06/2001 (0)
- Re: You ARE doing the head gasket now ?......... Bob 11:22 4/06/2001 (1)
  - Re: You ARE doing the head gasket now ?......... Mark 12:24 4/06/2001 (0)

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