Carver Owners Forum

Bella Notte is a 1979 voyager 3326 with Crusader 350 engines.

Has anyone replace the head gaskets on a 79 350 engine?

I had a marine mechanic look at it and he said he would be glad to do it, that was 3 months ago. So now I'm going to try it myself and I was wondering if there were any tricks of the trade that might help and make it easier. I'm planning to do it with the engine still in the boat.

As the boat is on the hard in Maine it will be April before it is warm enough to make this repair any help or suggestions willl be greatly appreciated.

Marine mechanics in this area are very few and far between.

Go for it. No tricks, but if you have not done this sort of job before, take pictures. Every step.

Get some cardboard and punch holes to hold the various bolts in order.

Be a total anal person when removing gaskets.

Keep the pushrods and rockers in order.
Do not use much silicone gasket sealer. If you clean the surfaces, you njeed none other than maybe in the corners of the intake where the head, block, and manifold meet.

You dont need any "sealer" on the head gasket. None. Clean the surfaces very well.

Simple work, but it takes time. So take your time and do it right.

Its a simple "disassemble/reassemble" job. As Fred said - keep track of what bolts go where as some of them will have different lengths, take pictures. Very important is to have the RIGHT tools. Its the difference in getting the jop done right versus breaking something/rounding the head off a bolt and botching the job. Get an engine manual with step by step instructions. It's not rocket science for sure, basically just bolts and nuts.

Thank you. Makes me feel better to hear both replys. I'll take the advice.