head gasket replacement

I have to replace the front head gasket on my M35A2 in the next couple days. Anybody have any advice or do's/don'ts. I got the replacement gasket already from Clark trucks.

I did it last year, not too hard. Check this thread for pics and info:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=11834

Don't get a Saturn head nut wrench, they stink.

Go ahead and do both heads. You have to pull the intake and exhaust manifolds in order to do one head, so you are 90% there, you might as well do both. You will be hating life if you have to do all this work again 3 months from now.

Go ahead and replace the coolant hoses as well while you are there, it's much easier.

What Clinto said Just make sure the headgaskets are the newer stule. The will be black or grey. The will look like a FelPro headgasket for a Chevy or Ford and will have permaseal around the oil and water passeges. Search for head gasket replacement in search. There are quite a few threads and some good info there. There's also a pic of what happens to a saturn wrench when you use it

Have the heads machined. DON'T skip it.

check to be sure you have a TD marked block before you waste your time on an older engine. saturn head bolt wrenches are very good, for what they were designed for, which is the lower head bolt torque of the older engine blocks without the TD mark. have the injectors checked while they are out. replace the freeze plugs in front and rear of the heads with stainless, they rust through. have heads machined even if they look perfect, just a few thousandths. check the valve seats by filling the ports with some solvent. you might as well do it right the first time and never have to do it again.