Which head gasket set?

[Dmaxx85]

He guys I am doing a head gasket job on my 2004 sea ray with a mercruiser 5.0 MPI

just curious what is recommended for gaskets????

Called the marina and they want $50 a gasket and I do believe those are sirrra

just wondering if you guys guys have a certain brand in mind? Or a certain set?
Also I am looking to over night these today because I back out of the marinas $300 gasket bill. If they were OEM then I would have done it.

I looked on here and honestly didn’t see the set I need for my 2004 305 MPI

Thanks

 

[alldodge]

I would suggest FelPro 17224 which is the top end gasket set. Head, valve cover, intake etc

 

[alldodge]

Do note: that if your going to bore, you need head gasket to fit, and standard head gasket only is FelPro 17020

 

[Dmaxx85]

What about a kit from advanced auto?

 

[alldodge]

Advance carries FelPro so that's fine, just don't get any cheap non-marine set

 

[Rick Stephens]

Won't go wrong with the correct FelPro marine gaskets. As AD said, best choice no matter where you get them.

 

[Dmaxx85]

Ok they told me they were Felpro at advanced but didn’t say they were marine. For a 98 Chevy 305 is what he has. What would be the difference?
I feel confident the felpro from there will be just fine. What do you guys think? Just won’t say marine on it.
Thanks

 

[alldodge]

Look for the numbers I posted above, if they are the same numbers your good, if not suggest ordering online or look at NAPA or Oreilly's

 

[Dmaxx85]

Found the Fel Pro 17224 on amazon for $109.
Now what thread sealant do you guys use for the head bolts?
Also is there a right up or a head gasket job?

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ultra black RTV

 

[alldodge]

About any thread sealer, ARP, Permatex or Loctite

Also is there a right up or a head gasket job?

Please clarify meaning of this statement

 

[Scott Danforth]

Im thinking the OP is looking for a write-up on replacing headgaskets. if that is the case, use the factory manual.

 

[Dmaxx85]

Where can I download the seloc service manual for an 04 mercruiser?

 

[Rick Stephens]

The Seloc would be good to block up the trailer wheels. Makes good fire starter when kept dry. Go to http://boatinfo.no and you can access the online mercruiser factory service manual.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Where can I download the seloc service manual for an 04 mercruiser?

Factory manual is the only one with correct information. Seloc manual is for when you run out of toilet paper and have already used your socks

 

[Rick Stephens]

Factory manual is the only one with correct information. Seloc manual is for when you run out of toilet paper and have already used your socks

Eeeeew.


You'd let seloc paper touch you down there?

 

[achris]

Eeeeew.


You'd let seloc paper touch you down there?

Option of last resort....

 

[Dmaxx85]

Now as far as the heads themselves do I truly need to take them to a machine shop? Or can I just put a straight edge on them and use feeler gauges?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Now as far as the heads themselves do I truly need to take them to a machine shop? Or can I just put a straight edge on them and use feeler gauges?

depends on how they look. if you have a ground straight edge (and not your dinged up carpenter square), then yes, check them for flatness

a machine shop will clean the heads, check for flatness, then pressure test the heads. at that point if they dont pass pressure test, the course of action would be determined and you would be called

if the heads are not flat, they will dis-assemble the heads, fly-cut the deck mating surface and then at a minimum true-up the seats prior to re-assembly. if the intake or exhaust mating surfaces are bad, they will fly-cut them too

personally, prior to getting a head rebuilt, get a quote. I had a set of heads the shop said would cost $800 to rebuild..... a new set from GM is just under $700 ($345 each)

 

[Dmaxx85]

Well just got the call from the machine shop and both heads are cracked. So you guys think I should go right to gm and get a set of heads? Or should I just get another remanufactured motor from jasper for $2000 more?