420A engine builders...please help!

[Extreme GS]

Jay, JP, Jeff, Chad, or others. My car has been down due to overheating, and recently, oil leaking pretty bad from the exh. cam seal. I'm looking to have the headgasket and the cam seals replaced, but I don't have all the parts yet. I plan to buy the headgasket, new head bolts, and cam seals. I have all the sealants/silicones. What else will I need?

Most importantly, I will need some help with the job. :( I've read the Haynes and the factory manual, and I don't feel very confident about doing it by myself. If you guys could help, that would be great. I'm a little strapped for cash right now, but if necessary, we coud work out something to compensate for your time and assistance. Please let me know if any of you can help. Thanks in advance.

[1lowDSM]

Kon unfortunaly I dont know much about rebuilding it but i would be glad to lend you a helping hand free of charge :)

[JayC]

Get a head gasket kit. It comes with all of the gaskets you will need once you take the head off. The reason I say this is that you won't be able to use all of the gaskets once you take the head off. I got my set from www.gasketpro.com. It is only $99 for the head gasket set. I want to warn you though. It comes with a graphite head gasket not metal. I used it with no problems. This kit even comes with valve seals. Another thing. You may not need to get new head bolts I mean you haven't had those bolts in for that long. I would think you could use them again.

[MrBlunt]

well you just so happen to be in luck because i have 2 brand new cam seals never used that you may have...the head bolts you can order through howell, i dont have the exact price right off hand but they are mopar bolts and they werent over 40 bucks if i remember right...i know all about being broken, i've spent half of 03 w/ my car on stands due to that piece of $hit melling oil pump...oem is being put in it this time...i bought a c&r radiator that came today but they shipped me a 4g63 core...damn.....@%#)......(i'm sure there is no diff in core thickness but the inlet pipe is in the center of the top core and the outlet is all the way to the left of the bottom core--i'm calling c & r tomorrow morning to see if i can get one specially made...the unit is gorgeous though, a 12-13 inch fan is already mounted on the unit, cost me 390 bucks shipped, i ordered it yesterday at 5:00ish and it was waiting on me...as for the headgasket you want the mitsu 4 piece mls, you can get it at roby for 50.44...if your timing belt , water pump and tensioner are more than 60K old you may want to splurge and get a new one...jp is a rather busy guy w/ all the broken cars in his garage and two dsms of his own, jay is in the middle of a rb20det swap in a 240 at dans dads...my car will be running saturday god willing so i may have some time starting next week to help ya out..i get off at 6ish everynight, then just have to work it out w/ the wifey to tryin keep me ace out of trouble w/ her...you may want to pick up some Copper Gasket Spray for the headgasket...helps it seal better and at 4 bucks its good insurance...the job isnt to bad, its just getting the left mount out of the way to drop the motor enough to time it..thats the trickery...jays crafty ass did the headgasket himself!...other than that it shouldnt be to bad of a job, i'll be touching up on my timing skills saturday so i'll have it fresh in my head

[Extreme GS]

thanks! I let ya'll know after I pick up all the parts.

[jplong]

Kon whwnever you start lemem know mang....ill try my hardest to help ya out.....

[JayC]

Crafty ass hu? I kind of like that. Thanks.

[ucsigep]

I don't know if I would call me a 420a engine builder, but if I'm able to, I'll help out.

[Iwishiwascool]

I can help!

Im good at spraying the headgasked with the copper seal. Since I have a bottle in my trunk im even gonna save you $7.

Im a good cheerleader.

Thats about all ill be helpful with though.

[ucsigep]

Don't sell yourself short, Ken. You can order a pizza like nobody.

[jplong]

hey ya gotta eat right....

[Extreme GS]

I'll have plenty of pizza, chips, soda and beer!!!! :beer

I guess the whole job doesn't sound to be too bad, but I don't fully understand how to set the pistons TDC, and setting the whole timing thing.

Tools. What are all the tools necessary to do the job? I've got jack stands, jack, mechanic's set (basic) hand tools. I really don't remember from when you guys rebuilt my engine, but what other tools will I need to get to make the job easier? Thanks.