Hey guys

Doing a head gasket job on my d15b7 in a 95 eg. I'm beginner-novice when it comes to mechanicing, but I somehow managed to get the cylinder head off without breaking anything! Just have a few questions for those more experienced than I:

#1. Should I replace the head bolts? I've seen tons of debate on this subject, and I called the local dealer who said as long as the bolts don't LOOK stretched that I can reuse them. Sounds fishy to me..

#2. I've never adjusted valves before. How do I take these measurements? For instance, valve 1 intake is 0.18 - 0.22 mm...Is this an acceptable range? What am I measuring? Do I even need to do this?

#3. Is it likely that the block warped when the gasket blew? Should I go through the trouble of buying a straightedge to check?

Pics!

 

Yes, replace the head studs. Better to do it now than to have to rip the head off again because they needed to be replaced.

Buying a straight edge isn't exactly trouble. Go to a store that sells rulers and pick one up. Yes, you definitely should.

 

If it was me I'd buy a set of ARP headstuds and a D16Y8 three layer steel headgasket. ('96 - '00 Civic EX)

 

Give more background. Did the engine severely overheat (red zone on cluster temp gauge) after the head gasket blew?

 

Yes it hit the red. More than once. The engine has about 190000 miles on it and this is the second head gasket job. It failed because I was a dumbass and did not fix a leaking radiator.

 

Well, that's not good. You won't want to hear this, but my recommendation would be to shop for a replacement engine. There's a reasonable chance that the engine warpage caused by the overheating will become a never ending source of problems.

If you decide to just replace the head gasket, get a precision straight edge to check for warpage of the head and block mating surfaces and have the head milled flat.

 

^^6im currently dealing with the constant issues from a multiple time overheated engine, I myself went with the three layer headgasket and bought new bolts, I even took the head to a local maching shop where they check for warpage and said it was still within spec I even watched them do it.

But im still dealing with exhaust gas getting into the cooling system somehow so i think the block itself might be warped. Im appraoching 236,000 miles so i think im just gonna replace everything

 

I should have asked it overheated first, but yeah, it's probably cooked. I'd try to find a nice low mileage JDM replacement engine.

 

Will it heat all the time or say just at idle?

 

Ok well I'll try got get my hands on a straight edge so I can tell if the block is warped. I'm just going to assume the head is warped and take it to the machine shop.

 

It really doesn't matter, once they're overheated like that it ruins the rings anyway. I wouldn't spend a cent on that engine knowing it's been overheated like that (and I say that coming from personal experience)