Topic: Let's talk head gaskets

[KrautKoffin]

In all likelihood you'll break the seal on the base gasket when you pop the top. If you're comfortable about removing the cylinders and not breaking a ring why not?!

What if I'm not comfortable not breaking a ring?

[Rookster]

True enough.  I built the thing the first time around so I might as well just pull the cylinders too.  I was actually more concerned with space and working room as I'm leaving the motor in the frame and using a frame kit this time as opposed to just having the engine on the bench.

Scott

[bjbuchanan]

In all likelihood you'll break the seal on the base gasket when you pop the top. If you're comfortable about removing the cylinders and not breaking a ring why not?!

What if I'm not comfortable not breaking a ring?

The idea is if you go to the head gasket that base gasket is probably disturbed/maybe disturbed but IDK, it is hit or miss. The base gasket has low pressure near it, it isn't like the head gasket so maybe you would be fine.

I guess it really comes down to if you are feeling lucky, huh? No one can answer if you will leak or not

http://youtu.be/u0-oinyjsk0?t=21s

[Bailgang]

I guess it really comes down to if you are feeling lucky, huh? No one can answer if you will leak or not

+1 Bingo that says it all.
That's precisely why I had to replace the base gasket on my 550 a few months after replacing the head gasket with an MLS head gasket. When I initially took the head off the first time I accidentally pulled the cyls up just a bit too which tore the base gasket just a bit. It tore in a low pressure area so I figured nah it'll be fine once everything is torqued down ...... uh nope. Shortly after getting everything back together and engine running like a charm I ended up with a leak at the base gasket where it tore, a very small leak but enough to seriously piss me off. I dealt with that for a few months because I too wasn't looking forward to removing the cyls either in fear of messing up a piston ring.

I think the bottom line is that if you can remove the cyl head without disturbing the cyls at the base AT ALL then you just might get lucky ..... maybe. With hindsight being 20/20 I wish I had just replaced the base gasket in mine the first time even if it didn't tear.

[Wobbly]

I replaced the head gasket several times, but the base gasket is still the 36-year old original which still does not leak or even sweat any oil. I guess, different people have different experiences.