LUVTruck.com

I just purchased a 1981 Chevy LUV. It runs, but I'm pretty sure the head gasket is blown. I have done minor car repairs for many years. Is changing the head gasket something that I should tackle? I don't mind doing the work, I just don't want to make any major mistakes.

Buy a manual for your year LUV and go for it. Any extra help you may need is just a post away.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

That's right. I got my head off right now, and will be putting in new piston rings, rod bearings, main bearings, oil pan gasket, head gasket, timing cover gasket, timing chain tensioner, exhaust manifold gasket, thermostat gasket, and just whatever else I need. My pistons are all laying on my workshop bench. I don't have any questions I don't either already have the answer for or know how to ask right here.

There's at least a dozen people ready to answer any question you have.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

yeah, man. i did a head gasket last weekend on my '79 4x4. you will get recommendations to have a shop mill the head for flatness. i didn't, but i had another one that i already knew was a better head than the one i took off with a blown gasket. use your discretion. when i took off the one that was bad, there was about 1/2 inch of water/antifreeze on top of cylinder #2, and when i pulled the oil plug, i got a rush of about a quart of water/ antifreeze, before the oil & sludge. it was bad, bad.

make sure to keep the timing chain in place on the sprocket. maybe use a piece of wire to hold it tight when you actually pull the head. the head will pull over the sprocket & chain through the opening, and still keep time. look at my replies when i posted questions about the same thing a week or two past (chipstyleTN). I got a bunch of information from others, and still want to thank them.

Hey Chipstyle, did you pull the oil pan? I advise you to. If you don't, there's probably a quart of mayonaise-consistency sludge that you haven't gotten out and won't unless you pull it off and clean it out by hand. I'm doing it for the second time since September, and this time around I'm also doing the rings and bearings. You have to remove the splash plate, the crossmember, and the tie-rod link. There's also an air breather tube, the oil filter, and two brackets on the bell housing. I left the one on with the clutch linkage going through it. It bothers me some, but I managed the first time. You also remove the oil dipstick. That's how you know you got it clean. I also changed my oil pump, because I wasn't sure how the water may have affected the check valve and I didn't want to take any chances. When you put the pan back with a new gasket, it's very difficult to get it to line up, and when you do, don't over tighten the bolts.

If you do it right, you shouldn't have to do it again. Make sure you understand the timing chain tensioner adjuster before you remove the head.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

thanks to Busco06 for letting us post to your inquiry. maybe this will help you with your stuff.

to FullaLuv: no. i didn't pull the oil pan. I'm sure i prob'ly should for the reason you posted, but i've already put about 400 miles on it, and changed the oil today (12.23.06) and re-torqued the head bolts with a new wrench.

I'm watching the color of the oil very closely. I'm also pretty sure the oil rings are pretty worn out; but this truck is old enough to smoke, and I'll add oil as needed, and change oil as needed; until i can afford to have the rings and bearings changed. (per time and money). I would really like to be able to change the piston rings, rod bearings, main bearings, oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket, and timing chain tensioner as you are, but it's all about time and money for me, so until then, Busco06 - do what you can. FullaLuv is really right about this stuff.

I was referring to Busco's thread as well. Quite likely with a blown head gasket you've got water in your lubrication system from the coolant system. Busco said he believes he has a blown head gasket. I want Busco to know that the domino effect is in charge here. I am going through all of it right now, so it's very fresh in my mind and on the lens of my camera. A big mistake is to not do it if it needs doing and then have to do it all over again. I just put a new head gasket in my engine October 4, and I'm in the process of doing it again due to the fact that I didn't leave the timing chain tensioner adjuster in the right position. This broke the adjuster and caused me to start taking it apart to replace the tensioner adjuster. I'm required to remove the oil pan and head AGAIN as well as the front cover. This time I've opted to go ahead and replace the rings and bearings, deglaze the cylinders, & replace all the gaskets again.

It's only out of the kindness of my heart I give you this advice freely, and it applies to any one who owns a LUV.

When you remove the head you have to turn the adjuster mechanism by pushing down on it and turning it clockwise 90°. This creates the slack in the timing chain which allows you to remove the camshaft sprocket. When you replace everything you better be absolutely sure you put the adjuster back into operation by reversing the motion and leaving the slot in a front-to-back position. If you don't, the timing chain will slap around until you break something. It's worse when idling.

Another thing. I paid over $190 to have my head resurfaced and pressure tested. If you don't, you're running the risk of having another blown head gasket. It's a free country, so suit yourself.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

I appreciate all of your comments and hints. I hope to get started here pretty soon.

Good for you not to rush....

Read up on some of the posts we're leaving now about timing. I'm putting mine together in about three days from now, so there should be some good stuff coming up.

Have a great New Year's and be safe.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.