Topic: Anyone ever installed a head gasket...

[brett_bike]

on a Nissan Altima?  With all the work I've done to my CB, I should be able to replace the head gasket on my wife's car.  Any body here done it?  Any tips?

[mgbgt89]

Never done one on an altima, but if it's an overhead cam, Triple check the timing belt before you start the engine, It's super easy to get them off a tooth. Turn the engine over several times with a breaker bar and check the marks each time. If you don't you could hit valves with the piston. You probably should replace the timing belt and tension while you're at it.

[brett_bike]

Sorry, it was 1am and I had a couple beers.  I meant valve cover gasket.

[Gordon]

Sorry, it was 1am and I had a couple beers.  I meant valve cover gasket.

You're wondering if you can change the valve cover gasket yourself? 

If you can lube the chain and air up the tires on your bike I think you're easily qualified to change a valve cover gasket.

[brett_bike]

I figured it would be an easy job.  After all, I have done the clutch, installed new chain, lined my tank and rebuilt my carbs, so I figured I could do it. 

Just wanted to find out if any one here has done it and could lend a little advice.

[bucky katt]

i do the one on my saturn every 75,000 miles or so.

[BeSeeingYou]

i do the one on my saturn every 75,000 miles or so.

So you have done what, like ten now?

[bucky katt]

about to do number 6 in the next few months. i'm going to wait till i have money for new hydraulic lifters and do it all at once

[seaweb11]

If I can change out the water pump on my 97 F-150 you can switch out a valve gasket

[mrblasty]

Valve cover gasket?  Probably not.  Transmission rebuild?  No problem.

[DaytonGuy]

The valve cover gasket is easy..it's all the stuff you might have to remove/relocated to get the valve cover off that may be a pain in the @ss, but it's still very doable.

[w1sa]

This reminds me of the one I heard/read a while ago, about a cardio-vascular surgeon who in retirement decided to attend an auto-mechanics course.
Upon sitting his final exam, he was awarded a 110% result for his final test question..........'how to remove and replace a piston from a closed engine' . The surgeon  had described a method of remove and replace via the exhaust pipe!     

[Steve F]

My son has (had) a Toyota with a OHC and Hemi type head design, and he had a problem with oil accumulating in the sparkplug holes through the valve cover.  I cautioned him to vacuum out those recessed hole before he removes the valve cover so he wouldn't have all that crap go rushing into the engine once the cover was pulled up.  Do you think he would listen to me?  Had a couple hours of work cleaning out the head of all the dirt, dead bugs and bad oil.