My head gasket kit from AB came in just now so that will be getting under way on Saturday. While I have my entire engine bay in 150 parts scattered across the garage what else should I do? I mean things like cleaning crap that can't be accessed normally, tightening stuff up, you get the idea.

Also, exactly how hard is this job? I've never taken an engine apart before, and certainly never done anything this complicated to a car. All I'll have to go by is the rave manual and my cousin's help, who although he knows a little more about cars than me he's still a little inexperienced and I really don't want to screw this up. If I could afford to take it in to have it done I would but I have no money for the next few months and I need my truck back asap. =/

 

Besides getting your heads inspected and planed, maybe pull your tappets and see how they are wearing on the bottom, look at the cam shaft underneath them. Clean the deposits off your pushrods and rocker covers and try to clean up any deposits in you manifolds. Not much else really to do besides follow the directions to get it back together. The hardest part is getting everything off, putting it back together is easy.