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Replacing the 196 OHV Head gasket - Part 1




I saw a wee bit too much white smoke in the exhaust. It has been taking longer and longer for the smoke to clear up after starting, to the point where there is still white smoke when the engine is at regular running temperature. The white smoke would go away after driving around. I decided to replace the head gasket, and this seems to have solved the problem. Before you remove the rocker arm cover, drain the radiator and remove the hoses from the water pump and thermostat housing. Remove the carburetor and the rocker arm assembly:





The bolts/studs on the ends of the head were the hardest to remove. Be careful when you remove these not to snap them off. One mistake I've made in the past is using extensions. There is a tendency to twist with a force partially off center, so the bolt/stud snaps off where it meets the head or block. Use the shortest socket you can without extensions, if possible, when you remove these. They aren't exactly studs, because there is an integral nut in the center. Kind of like a bolt with a stud on top:



Everything is removed from the passenger side of the head, now. One thing I was really worried about was the oil tubes on the front of the block, and the T connector. It turned out not to be a big deal. I've had those connectors melt in my hands before when I tried to disconnect the fittings. Eventually I'll replace all of this tubing:



Part 2



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