Rebuild time or just gasket

[Tateremtp]

Crawler 40 I noticed gas and water seeping out he bottom gasket engine seal as well as the head gasket on the motor. Best to rebuild now or just replace the gasket. Also Lavoy can you email me a price list of the gaskets and such I will need. clackey@catawbacountync.gov

[Willyr]

you might be looking at a cracked block, best wait on gaskets till you get it apart.

[Lavoy]

I agree, get it apart first and see what you have. Have the head magnafluxed, and checked for true. Might also consider a head rebuild while it is off.
When going back together, always use a dressing compound such as Copper Kote on both sides of the head gasket, and block and head surface.
Lavoy

[Willyr]

Hey Lavoy, gasket question. Some of my new gaskets are a piece of metal one side and some kind of gasket compound on the other. Are these gaskets designed to go one particular way in construction?

[Lavoy]

Have not seen that style, but I would guess they are. Check real close on the gasket for any labeling such as "TOP" or something like that.
Barring that, my assumption would be metal towards the head, but that is purely a guess.
Lavoy

[H-D]

Convention is for the metalized side to go against the part which expands & contracts more. So for a head gasket, metal toward the head; for an exhaust gasket metal toward the manifold.

[Willyr]

Thankyou, that is most helpful.