Doing LIM gaskets, do the head gaskets too??

[crazycd1]

My wifes 3100 powered Century has bad LIM gaskets. I am gonna do the job next weekend. I have all the updated parts to do from the LIM up. Question is do you guys think I should just do the extra work and do the head gaskets too? It shows no signs that the head gaskets are bad, but if there is some chance these engines go through those too, I want to get them done also, but I have not heard alot about HGs on these, so not sure what to do...?




EDIT:, the car I am questioning is our own car, and the head gaskets don't seem bad, but want to know if I should do them anyways while I am down that far in the engine? If they are not a common problem, then I may just stick with the LIM job.




Different car and reason I am considering the head gaskets too: we just did a LIM job on my father-in-laws co-workers car, turns out there is a little head gasket leak that we didn't know about sending coolant down the back of the engine VERY slowly, but I also think it maybe getting into that cylinder. It seems so far I am gonna have to redo that one for them... They asked me to do the intake gaskets for them, I had never seen the car before, and it was parked and cold when I got there to do the job. Well I did and while flushing the system after it was back together, I found the head gasket was letting a little drip of water every 5 seconds come down the back of the motor.

[LeftVentricle]

WHY AREN'T YOU DOING IT NOW

Yeah, if the head gaskets need to be done as well, it'd be kinda silly if you didn't do 'em now. You'll just end up pulling the intake again later if you don't.

[crazycd1]

They are not bad...... Thats the question, should I do them anyways since I will be down to the heads?

The other car was bad luck, I never saw the car before, never saw it run or anything, did the gaskets for them, then found a tiny leak later.

Our personal car is just the LIM gaskets, but I am considering doing the heads just as preventative maintenance.... if that makes better sense...

[PCGUY112887]

How many miles are on the personal car?

HG's are rare to let go with this engine, however it is still easy to do while your there. Your call really, just don't forget to use some new headbolts too...

[crazycd1]

Just a little over 100,000 on our car. Intakes are shot, coolant leaks out the side fast, I have to add 1 gallon of fluid every 2 days to keep it full. Oil seems clean, I don't think any water gets down into the engine.


The other car thats all screwed up is a 2001 pontiac grand am with a 3.4L, which takes the same gaskets as ours I believe. It only has 80k on it, thats the main reason I was wondering if the head gaskets are common like the LIM gaskets are.

[19Cutlass94]

HG are not common like the LIM gaskets... Its rare that one goes. My 3100 has 109,8xx miles on the original HG's. Personally I would leave them.

[mbear2489]

yeah my 98 3.1 has 116k and orig hg's and im hoping they continue to do their job. knock on wood they do. and as they say "dont fix something that aint broke"