So it looks like I lost a washer for one of my studs when pulling the head off the other day and was wondering if it's some uber cool uber special washer that I need or if I can just use a regular washer to replace it if I can't find this one. Anyone ever have this little dilemma?

P.S. Now that I can see the pistons and head in the daytime (since it was pretty dark by the time I got it off) It looks like I took out all the intake valves, looking at the valves they look ok to my untrained eye, but you can see they left marks on the pistons.

Do a leak test first on the valves. They may have contacted but not have bent.

Also, are you sure that you lost the washer? I ask this because I have seen people stack these washers by accident because they are hard to see on the head.

MB

Originally posted by bullettdsm
Do a leak test first on the valves. They may have contacted but not have bent.

From what I've read, that's just pouring a little oil or water on them from the bottom of the head and seeing if any leaks through correct? FWIW I had the head sitting on a table in the garage for a few days and went to move it today and the entire bottom was covered in oil/coolant so IDK. I'm debating just having them all replaced instead of putting the head back on and then finding out one of them is bent that I thought wasn't.

Originally posted by bullettdsm
Also, are you sure that you lost the washer? I ask this because I have seen people stack these washers by accident because they are hard to see on the head. MB

Pretty certain I've searched the head with a flash light and have layed out all the nuts/washers I had and counted, 10 nuts 9 washers :( I guess it's up to finding it on the driveway or the floor of the garage, either would be a miracle they're so messy.

I would use alcohol. It evaporates fairly quickly and doesn't really make a mess if you are doing this on a work bench. Water would promote some rusting and oil would just make a big mess.

If you see any alcohol seep out around the valves, I would be suspect. A valve that is properly seating should not let any alcohol into the head.

Originally posted by freelancefool
If you see any alcohol seep out around the valves, I would be suspect. A valve that is properly seating should not let any alcohol into the head.

Actually... a minimal seepage should be expected. Enough to damped the port over five minutes or so I'd consider normal.

Originally posted by DarkOne

Originally posted by freelancefool If you see any alcohol seep out around the valves, I would be suspect. A valve that is properly seating should not let any alcohol into the head.

Actually... a minimal seepage should be expected. Enough to damped the port over five minutes or so I'd consider normal.

Yet again the Man proves I have much to learn.