2006 4.7L head gasket replacement. Anyone done one?

[Tunnelboy]

Exhaust manifold nut/stud and reinstallation of head w/em attached

I have pulled everything, have had the heads re-done and now ready to re-assemble. The YT video I was watching says exhaust manifold nuts MUST be replaced. Wondering if this is true and if so, why? Nuts came off without a fight, and just for the heck of it, loosened some studs, so not sure whether I need to replace studs and nuts or what? I'm not seeing any kit or even nut package (sorry).

Also, I pulled the heads with the exhaust manifold to avoid having to lift engine off mounts. Was fairly simple. Can I reinstall this way? I realize there will be some weight on it, but it wasn't terrible coming out.

Thanks

 

[rdruss]

I would say that you can reinstall the head with the exhaust on it, but if I were doing it I would get me two long capscrews with head bolt thread, cut the heads off them, them then screw them into the opposite corner head bolt location on the block and use them as guides to help put the in place more easily so as not to bugger up the new head gasket.

 

[Keros]

I have pulled everything, have had the heads re-done and now ready to re-assemble. The YT video I was watching says exhaust manifold nuts MUST be replaced. Wondering if this is true and if so, why? Nuts came off without a fight, and just for the heck of it, loosened some studs, so not sure whether I need to replace studs and nuts or what? I'm not seeing any kit or even nut package (sorry).

When the shop installed my doug thorley headers, they insisted to replace the nuts, perhaps the studs as well. No problem, of course, they're silly cheap.

I believe they may be torque to yield, perhaps. Regardless, for the expense and hassle of an exhaust leak later, it's probably worth it to throw new nuts on.

Hope your project goes well!

 

[Tunnelboy]

When the shop installed my doug thorley headers, they insisted to replace the nuts, perhaps the studs as well. No problem, of course, they're silly cheap.

I believe they may be torque to yield, perhaps. Regardless, for the expense and hassle of an exhaust leak later, it's probably worth it to throw new nuts on.

Hope your project goes well!

Thanks, but the odd thing is that I can't find a set of studs and nuts anywhere. I can find nuts by the EACH and studs by the EACH, but you'd think if it was required, they'd come in a set. Not a huge deal, but the nut is $3-5 each and the stud is $5 each and we're looking at 8x2 which comes out to $160 + shipping.

 

[Tunnelboy]

I would say that you can reinstall the head with the exhaust on it, but if I were doing it I would get me two long capscrews with head bolt thread, cut the heads off them, them then screw them into the opposite corner head bolt location on the block and use them as guides to help put the in place more easily so as not to bugger up the new head gasket.

That is an excellent idea! Or threaded rod if I can find it (not sure I could get a bolt that long.. or possibly use one of the old head bolts!). That was my main concern since I'd be hovering over the engine with roughly 40-50 pounds of weight. When I pulled the heads, I was standing on the torsion bars of the vehicle inside the bay.

One mis-step and the gasket is trash.

 

[Bassturd]

This is the parts list I’ve acquired for my 04 and the nuts are on the bottom no studs. Hope this helps.

 

[Keros]

Thanks, but the odd thing is that I can't find a set of studs and nuts anywhere. I can find nuts by the EACH and studs by the EACH, but you'd think if it was required, they'd come in a set. Not a huge deal, but the nut is $3-5 each and the stud is $5 each and we're looking at 8x2 which comes out to $160 + shipping.

That's fair.

I guess my perspective was ~$150 on a +3000 bill wasn't really "that much".

It's all relative I guess.

I've always used the engine hoist to slowly lower heads back down onto the engine, I don't know if that would work here on our V8s