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Coolant leaking into the cylinders leads to serious engine damage. Simple loss of coolant can lead to overheating, with subsequent warpage of engine parts. While the engine is running, coolant leaking into a cylinder effectively raises the compression ratio, leading to detonation and explosive superheating of the coolant. Potentially disastrous consequences are broken rings or pistons, bent connecting rods, eroded head, dropped valves, blown motor, etc. Trying to start an engine after one cylinder has partially filled with coolant can cause the same kind of damage.
The procedure for head gasket replacement is included in the shop manuals we sell, but a few particulars need special attention. It is essential to check the head sealing surface for flatness. If you don’t have access to a machinist’s straight edge, have a machine shop check it. Nothing else is accurate enough. Clean off all the old gasket material and check for warp, bow, and twist. If you can see light under the straight-edge or slip anything thicker than a 0.002-in. feeler blade under it, the head should be machined.

There is sufficient material in the head to allow refinishing every time the head is removed during the life of the car. As much as 0.040” may be taken off before the compression ratio goes so high as to require high-octane fuel. Be aware that clearance between oversized valves and high compression pistons may become a problem around 0.020” of material removed.

We recommend installing all Alfa head gaskets clean and dry, without sealing compounds of any kind. Follow the factory torquing pattern using the higher range of specified torques. After everything is reassembled and timed, turn the engine over gently by hand to check for clearance or valve timing problems.

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