Rockers, intake off should i do head gasket

[Chimp871]

Following from an earlier post about my coolant leak. The leak led me the valley gasket but to my untrained eye it doesn't look damaged,which leads me to think the coolant leak could be the head gasket. I'm going to change water pump seal, thermostat and gasket, rocker and valley gasket anyway.

Rockers and intake is off at the moment, just how hard is a head gasket change on these rover v8's (450 1998), does preload need adjusting or just straight switch?

Any recommendations who can blast intakes?

Cheers

[Chimp871]

BeastMaster said:

used the same head gasket type and assembled components in exact positions and found preload to be ok.
Andy

Thanks BM. Out of interest when head was skimmed did you know by how much, were you able to lift rocker stands up to counter? I believe you can buy shims to fit under rocker pedestals to keep compression in tact.

Can you advise who did your head/intake work?

[Chimp871]

Ive not accurately found the water leak, I'm going with the cheaper options first like valley gasket, water pump seal, new thermostate and seal.

Theres just no obvious signs. But i definitely heaard air leaking from around the manifold intake, gasket though (I'm no expert) looked okayish.

Bloody frustrating these slow leaks!

If i had the time I'd do a top end rebuild, but don't so hemce leaving the heads for now.

[Chimp871]

I'm not wanting to go there right now. Heads starting to spin with the list of posible reasons but a leak down may do tomorrow