BHG Pics
 

Well finally got around to pulling the head. It's blown ;)

Normally when i see BHG pics i can tell by looking at the gasket where it blew... Looking at my gasket i dont see any damage to it. Can someone shed some light on this?

When backing out the bolts i noticed the torque/effort to loosen them was all over the place. A couple took 40ft/lbs some 70 some 60 and one bolt was over 100. Is that a sign guys i paid to do the job had no idea wtf they were doing?

http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000831.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000830.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000829.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000828.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000827.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000826.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000825.JPG
http://photo.karstedthome.com/var/al...e/P1000824.JPG

Did you/he retorque the head bolts after the car had been run from completely cold to full operating temp several times? Failure to do so could account for the lose of clamping force. Also, failure to chase the threads in the block could create a false torque reading which would only be revealed with measuring the breakaway torque.

Anyway about it it doesn't look like it was leaking bad or very long. Measure the block to make sure it's flat (same for the head), clean the crap out of it and install a new HG. You may want to get the head vacuum tested and UV inspected for cracks while it's out too.

I've read both ways on the need to retorque after heat cycles. I do not have my ARP studs in yet is that part of the instructions with the studs?

Sending the head off to get tested while its off, glad to hear the BHG is not bad at all. Ill be sure to clean out the bolt holes before the new studs go in.

Any tips for prepping the block for a MHG?