20r - Preventative Maintenance After 10k miles since the day I purchased her (Christmas Eve 09') the head, timing cover, and oil pan has ever so slightly started to weep oil. Coolant is also weeping out the thermostatic valve since I snapped one of two bolts that hold it to the head. Yet, she still pulls to 90 and just purrrrrrrrrrrs. No overheating. No smoking. A tribute to the geniuses who designed one helluva motor. But at 157k, I know she has a ton of life left in her. So, next week I'm rewarding her with a whole new set of gaskets and a fresh head. *Has anyone ever changed the gasket beneath the intake manifold? "Valley" pan, I believe it's called.
Well just one little tip... (this might be generation specific) One of the back head bolts doesnt like to come out with the still on the block. So its easier to put the bolt in the head, then slide the head onto the block. I had this problem on my 82. Got it all bolted together and the last bolt didnt go in because it hit the cab. Grrr. just my 2 cents.
To address the stuck bolt issue, I would invest in ARP head studs and ditch the head bolts altogether, it will also help with aligning the head gasket when it comes time to reinstall, and they are a hell of alot stronger.
