DRY ASSEMBLY head gaskets on or off?

[oneblueyedog]

I'm doing a dry assembly today. In Wayne's book he makes no mention if you put the head gaskets on (3.0) for the dry assembly. I have them on now but have not torqued the heads down. I have the cam tower torqued down dry. In order to time the cams to check the valve clearance, do I need to torque the heads. My feeling is yes. But if I have the head gaskets on and do the check, doesn't it ruin them?

Head gaskets for dry assembly on or off?

Same goes for other gaskets to make the check, do I install them?

Thanks,

[dtw]

You can leave the head gaskets off. And yes, you do need to torque the heads to do clearances. I can't think of any other gaskets that are required for dry assembly. Good luck! Let us know how your clearances work out.

[oneblueyedog]

Thanks,

Will do so!

Lee

[oneblueyedog]

I promised to post the results of the dry assembly. I highly suggest it as I learned a lot from it.

Intake and exhaust on #1 and #4 piston to valve clearance is -intakes 2.25mm throughout range exhaust-2.5mm throughout range of cycle. Absolutely rest assuring. I'm running a Elgin SC 330 regrind timed at a tiny bit under 2mm.

Upon final assembly I was torquing the right bank and was suspect of some cam binding and loosend the heads to do it over.

Are my head gaskets junk now?

Lee 78SC

[911pcars]

I would have suggested using the old head gaskets, but only to check for valve-to-piston clearance. If all components are rebuilt to the same spec or are the same, checking only one cylinder (or one on each side) should be sufficient. Thus, assemble, then time the cams. The thickness of the gasket does add to the total "stack" height and affects the centering of the cam in the chain box.

To avoid binding the cam while while tightening the head studs, I think loosening, then choosing a different tightening pattern is standard procedure. However, can one reuse a freshly crushed head gasket and assume it's going to seal correctly? Perhaps, but I would replace it (them). I hope that doesn't sound contradictory. The two are different.

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[Wayne 962]

The head gaskets only affect measurements on the early 2.0 motors - they can be used in the dry assembly with no fear of damaging them on the later engines. You can leave them on or off for measurements.

-Wayne

[365dan]

Wayne, I am rebuilding my 3.4 996 engine.
Was about done, then foolishly let a bolt go into engine. Already had heads on and torqued now that I am going to reassemble do I need new head gaskets? No fluids were put in as of yet.