I have a 318. Ripped it down to the heads and noticed while putting on the left gasket that there's no holes in the gasket for the lower antifreeze ports. Looked at the old gasket and noticed that there was none on that either. I thought there should be a hole for flow through the head and block. Can someone shed some light on this for me please. Thanks in advance.

 

Are you replacement head gaskets for a 5.2 or a 318? What did it say on the package of your new head gaskets? 318 head gaskets were used up thru 1989.

 

It's a victor reinz set that I ordered. It's said 5.2 sorry about that. I know I put in the correct info. 96 ram 1500 4wd 5.2l and this is what they sent me. Like I said it seems like the old gasket matches it but it doesn't make sense that there is no holes in the bottom of the gasket.

 

I just checked the package and it says dodge ram 318 (5.2) 1992 2001

 

Can you post pictures of the old and new gasket?

 

I've tried posting pictures in previous forums and I can't. But I'm 100% sure they match. Except the top were the intakes into the head are. The old gasket had three holes where the new has one big hole. But the clearance is the same. As far as any holes where the block and head meet they match new to old.

 

As long as the gaskets match well and are installed correctly (gasket should have a mark on it for 'top' for the proper facing/orientation of the gasket), you should not have any issues.

 

Well tomarrow is another day. I will keep you posted as to what happens. Thanks for the help or I'd still be here banging my head on the wall lol.

 

Ok another question concerning the guide rail and pushrod. The book is telling me torque to 200 in lbs (16 ft lbs I only have a ft lbs wrench). Now I was told only torque to where the was still slight spin in the push rod. At 16 ft lbs there is no spin in it. Sry about the dumb question but this is a dumb rookie here and I'm going by what I'm told and this book and up until now both matched. So what is ur opinion on this?

 

A good long rachet is what i use ! I have been a mechanic for a living for almost 20 yrs and i have never had a problem with doing it like that !