As above, I have just had a full head rebuild put the head on with new gp A gasket ,bolts etc and i managed to get the timing mark wrong on the crank pully. When i turned it over it locked up,so i checked and re-alined timing ,and when i spun the engine over i did a compression test and i have a lost all compression on number 4, so i have fucked a valve or 2. So as the engine has not ran can i use the gasket again?

 

No is the answer, and for the price of a new one you neednt even think about it m8.

Steve

 

Should have span it over by hand first

 

I wish i had, but i was so sure i was right ,you live and learn

 

its not worth the risk tbh, i could give reasons why you could and why you couldnt, but its just not worth the risk in reality...

 

you can reuse the gasket if the engine has not run but not the stretch bolts

 

expensive lesson

 

i did think of saying that, as the gasket wont have "gelled"
but wasnt sure if the fire rings would be ok...

 

I've done dummy builds fully torqued up with gaskets and then taken apart then re-used the gasket, never had a problem, so long as not been run.
I always torque up group a then wait a minimum of two hours and do again, otherwise they WILL be loose.
tabetha

 

doesnt sound good. BUT you may be out 180 degrees on pistons.

as 1&4 and 2&3 come up together. so every other TDC is what i call a 'ghost stroke'() or false TDC

if gasket has not had heat/run then it will be fine.

cant say the same for the bolts though!

(4x4 block anyway, dont know if swd is same?)
timing on crank pulley- there are 2 lugs about 1" apart, you want the left hand face of the left lug to line up with the mark on the block!

cams - 3 and 9 o'clock respectivly.

dizzy - tab lines up with circle punch mark on block (this is the most difficult one)

Its rare to be 180 out, as nornally the cams simply wont bolt in if its wrong, but it is possible. Also another silly mistake is mixing up the exhaust and inlet cams. the inlet cam is identified buy and oil way.

Another veriable is the hydro lifters? have you let them fill up with oil

so 1st take of rocker cover, check cam order (inlet right, ex left)

if ok then

2nd take cams out and turn engine one full revolution to gain 'True' TDC, re fit cams, then test for compression.

still no luck

3rd im afraid its head of and having a good poke around, possibly some new valves. you will know if they are bend and there will be marks on piston top.


OH YEH AND TURN THE ENGINE OVER BUY HAND!!!!!!
they are a pain in arse tho, easiers way is put car in 4th gear and rock foward. run out of room, neutral push back, then in 4th again and foward again etc!!!

dont use starter untill you have done this!!!

 

I've re used one before, put it on, started it up, ran it for about 10 minutes in total (short bursts), something still wasn't right took it apart again, found i hadn't cleaned up the faces properly, put it back together with the same gasket and not had a problem since.

 

it is the running of the engine that compresses the gasket and fire rings when it is up to normal operating temperature due to thermal expansion.The head is aly and expands 17 thou " stretch bolts are best