4.6 head gasket

[bblaze]

Well what I original thought was only a blown exhaust gasket turned out to be a blown head gasket on number 6.
What a pain in the arse those heat shields on the exhaust are, they may well get binned, thoughts?, have broken bolts and very bent heat shields.
Lost a clip off the injector electrical connecting that went in the big black hole somewhere.
Any way, looks like a bit of a polish on the heads and a couple of new gaskets all will be well again
cheers
blaze

[mtb_gary]

I've been running mine for around 2 years without the heat shield on the LHS. A bit like yourself it was a PITA trying to refit so I left it off. One day I must get around to refitting. But first I need to remove what's left of a broken bolt still attached to the exhaust manifold.....the front one that attaches to the spacer :(

[bblaze]

I git the long one at the back broken on both sides, had to mutilate the ones at the front and back as captive nuts let go etc. etc.
cheers
blaze

[prelude]

Mine did not come of in one piece either. I cleaned the manifold and did not replace them since it is almost impossible to do. I do worry about heat in the engine bay though so I have been thinking about that heat wrap stuff to wrap around the manifold.

My biggest worry with that though is that it is a cloth like structure and when wading or mudding it'll get completely soaked and I am not sure how well the stuff can handle it, or what it'll do in the engine bay after a while, perhaps even flammable organic residu in the water will get lodged into the fabric and might at the very least smoke a lot :) There is also evidence that in most cases the metal will get too hot this way and trapped moist will get superheated, eroding the steel very fast. An alternative is to get them ceramic coated. Could be expensive but would last a lifetime and considerably reduces the heat.

In any case, I do not feel like replacing those pesky pieces of metal since there is almost no way to do that without running the risk of them (bolts) seazing up again.

If you do not wade or mud very deep, I would certainly consider that wrap around stuff since it is easy, works better than those shields and uses less space, ie. a better accessible engine but do a bit a of research on the subject regarding early wear.

Also, I almost forgot, my gems manifolds have a flexible piece on them and I doubt that you can coat that with ceramics.

Cheers,

-P

[TheTree]

Hi,

There was a report that someone melted their brake fluid reservoir because they removed those shields, so i would be wary.

I use anti-seize on the bolts when I replace them.

Also I use a very long extension, after removing the guard liner, to get to the rearmost bolts. I also undo the engine mount and jack the engine up slightly on the drivers side, it makes it much easier to get the shields off !

Steve

[donh54]

I had to "mechanically adjust" mine, too. Ended up removing them completely, and went with a wrap, instead. I'll let you know if the car catches fire [emoji91]

[bblaze]

I think I am going to go with a wrap.
Heads are now in the hands of the recondition, quoted $440 for the pleasure of his work.
Also got pushrod on the loose, was pushing the buggers through a bit of cardboard, put in 3 and then when number 4 went in, number 1 fell through, down beside the radiator somewhere, shouldn't to to hard to find should it. You gotta be kiddin, its disappeared
oh the joy
cheers
blaze

[101RRS]

So you going to go to ARB studs or get new stretch bolts?

Garry

[bblaze]

new stretch bolts
cheers
blaze

[donh54]

I had to "mechanically adjust" mine, too. Ended up removing them completely, and went with a wrap, instead. I'll let you know if the car catches fire [emoji91]

Well, the wrapping seems to be a success! You can actually hold your hand close to the manifold after a good run, couldn't get near the heat shields before. Highly recommended!

[prelude]

That is excellent news!

Any chance of some pics? I would also like to know how it keeps up since there is still the concern of the metal corroding much faster. Keep us posted if you will :)

Thanks,

-P

PS I found an article that voices concern about wrapping: Exhaust Header Heat Wraps - Do Not Use (https://www.centuryperformance.com/exhaust-header-heat-wraps-do-not-use.html)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

yea but!
those headers are custom made out of maybe 1.5mm pipe,, a stiff breeze would hurt them,,,
I doubt any wrap will damage a cast iron product,,

[p38arover]

I had a couple of the rivnuts tear out of the heat shields. I bought some brass nuts and bolts to replace them.

Years ago, manifold nuts were always brass.

[bblaze]

I had a couple of the rivnuts tear out of the heat shields. I bought some brass nuts and bolts to replace them.

Years ago, manifold nuts were always brass.

Mine are a bit bent and twisted to do that with Ron, tension the heads down today and then start on the rest tomorrow
cheers
blaze

[p38arover]

Mine are a bit bent and twisted to do that with Ron, tension the heads down today and then start on the rest tomorrow
cheers
blaze

Yep. I had to panel beat mine a bit, too.

[PLR]

yea but!
those headers are custom made out of maybe 1.5mm pipe,, a stiff breeze would hurt them,,,
I doubt any wrap will damage a cast iron product,,


Discoverys may be cast , these use SS

[bblaze]

Well finally got it to make a noise today
Had an eye op 3 weeks ago so still only got about 50% vision in that eye, so its been painfully slow putting it back together by feel. Son inlaw come down today to help finish it off.
May still have a bit of air in the system but the old girl started after turning over 3 or 4 times on the jump leads. Do an oil change tomorrow and hopefully back on the road.
cheers
blaze
ps
once again thanks to roverlord off road spare, no doubt we will do business again