'80 LF Head

[Deleted User]

Hey everybody, am "puttering" around with an old bad shape LF that someone gave me. They had it running briefly, but apparently blew a head gasket. The sled had been setting outside for a number of years. Anyhow, have read many posts regarding head replacement; but could someone please review the procedure for me. Have Winderosa gaskets; but need advice on head clean-up, gasketing, and torque settings. Thanks, SlimT

[MuskyBear]

I used to take a big good flat file, put the head in a vise and slowly stroke the head with the file in the push stroke only until it was perfectly flat on the head gasket sealing surface, or you could do the same thing with lapping compound or a big piece of fine emery cloth on a piece of good thick glass and lap it in a figure 8 motion. You can also take a big drill bit and slightly counter sink the head stud holes if they look like they are starting to bell out.

[Mean Green]

I like to use the plate glass or marble top approach. I lay VERY fine sandpaper on a plate of window glass, and make circles with the head until the finish is uniform. I also do this on cylinders after removing the studs as many were overtorqued and pulled the studs up causing grief as per leaking coolant around the head gaskets. The studs are often hard to remove and I recommend a snap-on stud remover as it doesn't damage things. If you use vice grips, make shure you debur the stud before reinstalling. Your milage may vary.

[Mean Green]

Oops, almost forgot, goto sledzepplins website in links (formerly quickr) as he has the entire LF tech manual available for viewing. Hope this helps!

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the info on the cylinder head. Do I also remember reading to use Aluminum Spray Paint on the head Gasket when I re-assemble? Thanks , SlimT