I bought a 2.3 turbo a few months back to put in my pinto. Its from an 87 TC. The guy I got it from had taken it apart, did a crappy job of cleaning it up, replaced ALL the gaskets and seals, and the freeze plugs, but didnt get it all the way back together before deciding the car was in too bad of shape to mess with anymore.
Anyways, he pulled the head and replaced the head gasket and then stuck the head back on and threw on a coat of paint. I was very dissatisfied with the paint job so I took paint stripper and totally cleaned the engine up. He had most of the engine together, except for the valve cover so i took the intake and exhaust manifolds off as well as the water pump, timing components, etc. Its down to just the head, block and oil pan.
The engine has not been run since the work was done. I want to pull the head and take it to the machine shop and have them clean it up, check it for cracks and replace the valve seals before I install this engine into my car. Is the new headgasket ruined or can it be reused?
Also, the guy used some really good copper sealant of some kind on the intake gasket. I didnt think you were supposed to use any sealer (i never have) but the sealer stuff sure stuck that gasket on good. It ruined the new intake gasket when I pulled it off. I found this sealer stuff he used at oreillys, and I am very tempted to use it seeing as it worked so well. Does anyone see a problem with that? I do believe the gasket set says not to use sealer or that sealer isnt needed but all I can say is WOW that stuff sure sealed that gasket up, there was NO way that thing was going to leak!
Finally, are the head bolts reusable or are they torque to yield?