"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."

Mark ,

What do you mean ?
You mean the upper cover to the head ?
Or the gasket below the upper cover ,to the lower cover , beacause thats part of the head gasket .
In any event you can get away with just replacing the head gasket .
The other ones can be reused .

I think just doing the head gasket is a wise idea , to get you by .
I would recommend doing one other thing though .
When you get the head off , take it and the upper timing cover to a machine shop and have them both resurfaced together .
Should only run like $30 or so , cheap insurance.
You can leave the valves in but you have to take out the cam.
Thats pretty easy though .

Then slap it all back together , and you're set .
If you want additional insurance , get a turbo '02 "cutting ring " head gasket .
But its like $70 or so alone , same as a whole regular head gasket kit .
But you can just get the head gasket alone for like $20-$30 , thats what I did .

Teaguer

P.S.: Hey I'll have pics soon of my 8" door mids .
Its getting there , slowly .

P.P.S.: When it comes time to get another engine , look for a '79 .
It only has a single timing chain unlike the earlier 2 liters with dual chains .
The dual chain is not needed and just more weight to spin around .