my son blew a head gasket on his 88 truck. we pulled the head , had it checked, replaced the gasket, placed the head on the block and noticed on the passenger side of the head there are some type of inserts where the bolts go in. the inserts fit up in the rocker arm assembly and into the head. there are none on the driver side of the head. the problem is the insert on the rear bolt is missing. I have no idea where it is or even if it was ever there. what are these inserts called and are they needed and where can I get another one at.

 

Heli Coil maybe?


Tupelo huh, I'm not that far from you the way the Crow flies.. I'm in Tunica

 

My '88 is currently torn down for a blown head gasket. When I removed the rocker assembly, the front insert on the intake side came out with the rocker assembly. The others stayed in, and there are none on the exhaust side.

Maybe yours also came out with the rocker. You're sure it's not stick stuck on the bottom? Or maybe it dropped on the floor/work bench somewhere when you were moving the head around?

 

that is what I thought but we have searched the shop over and can't find it. I will check with the engine shop tomorrow to see if they can help. what are they called.

 

I have not been down your way in a long time. when ever I feel the urge I just send them a check and save the gas lol.

 

I call em locator sleeves. Don't know the proper name. Thats what they do, locate the rocker assy properly. The machine shop should be able to hook ya up.
Jim

 

Oh just a reminder. Did you clean out the head bolt holes yet? Very important step!!!! You wont get good touque values if you dont run a tap down em and wash em out.
Jim

 

just like foot0069 said, it they are just sleeves to align the head and rocker arm.

I lost one on rebuild, and a new one cost me about $2 from the steelership. They had to get it from Califoniastan though

 

if you can wait on the mail, I'll send a couple to you.

 

Yeah dealerships have them. And like Jim said clean out those bolt holes on the block, Im sure he remembers my post and the problems I had with my head gasket job. And Jim, By the way, shes running like a champ now

 

I cleaned them out with compressed air, filled my face full of oil when I did, but I believe they are clean now. thought I might change the timing chain while it was down. found out after closer inspection the cover had a tiny hole in it from the timing chain. found the timing chain, cover, gears, oil pump, water pump, and gaskets in a kit on ebay from mizumo auto, cost about 70 bucks.

 

I really wish I had a "smacks with rolled up newspaper" smiley: NO! BAD, NO!

eBay is cheap, but you get what you pay for. If you want the best stuff at awesome prices, you need to talk to Ted at engnbldr (engnbldr@engnbldr.com). You'll pay more than the $70 on eBay, but the stuff it top quality, and Ted is the defonition on customer service.

On another note, you might want to run a tap through the threads too, just to be sure.

 

SOCS the compressed air aint enough you HAVE!!!!! to run a tap or thread chaser down them holes. The threads get all gooked up from the oil cookin in there for all those last miles. The tap will actually cut more gook out so you can fill your eyes up again. Seriously please chase those threads or you will be cussin soon!

 

Shorty glad to hear it. Jim

 

socs... Check my headbolt post. It was just brough back from the dead. You can see my probs with stuff in the block holes

 

Ummm Bill, Ted (engnbldr) also sells his stuff on ebay and you can pick his stuff up there for less than direct buy.

Does the timing rebuild kit you got on ebay have the metal backed guides ? Ted's do and we all (well most) swear by them. And like Bill said top quality stuff with top quality Custy Service. Plus he's a member here.

 

the kit is supposed to be in today. I am pretty sure the chain guides are plastic. the chain gudes in all the other kits that I have found are plastic also (local parts places). the only metal gudies I have seen are from doa and engine builder. how long do the plastic guides last? I really don't like the looks of them. the local engine shop helped me out on the insert piece that I lost.

 

You are Right only the intake side of the rockers have the sleeves.
I have dealt with enough crack heads ;-) to collect a bunch. If you
can't find one give me shout. Most of the time they get stuck in the rocker
assembly and you look all around until you turn the rocker over to see them
hiding!

 

finally got it put back together. had a small water leak from one of the tubes (loose bolt). everything seems alright so far,timing may be a little off. it has a weird sound coming from the intake side,but it runs pretty good. possibly a vaccum line off. thanks to alot of help from yota tech, 4crawler, and pirate. there is alot of info on these web sites.