reuse head gasket after "test" assembly?

[joea]

I am bolting on my heads for an "test" assembly to determine pushrod length. I have the non metal head gaskets. Can these be reused after torquing down the heads?

[blykins]

I don't think you need to torque your heads to determine pushrod length...Just cinch them down a little so they won't pick themselves off the block when the pushrod comes up....You're allowed a little leeway there...just as long as the rocker makes proper contact on the valve stem.

[blykins]

Wait a minute....can't you wait until last to do this step? I think that was one of the last things I did when I built my engine....heads were torqued....lifters were installed.....

[joea]

Actually, I probably won't need to remove them since I am in the final steps, but if I don't need to fully torque the heads it shouldn't matter. Thanks!

[blykins]

A few thousandths isn't gonna hurt much Joe...But even so, I would wait until the very last to check pushrod length. That way if there are any doubts, you won't have to worry about it.

[arntztype4]

After talking to Fel-Pro, they told me that torquing the heads with the head gaskets in place was OK as long as it wasn't run!