Mustang Fel-Pro Performance Head Gasket (1965-1995) Installation Instructions
This Performance Head Gasket from Fel-Pro will fit 1965-1995 Mustangs with a small block Ford engine.
If your Mustang's head gasket, one of the most critical parts to sealing your engine for maximum compression breaks, replace it with one of Fel-Pro's Performance Head Gaskets. Fel-Pro features a PermaTorque/blue gasket body with a solid-steel core to minimize torque loss and gasket blowout. They're made for toughness, so the Fel-Pro Performance Head Gasket should last a long time in your 1965-1995 Mustang.
Tools Required:
- Socket Wrench
- Socket Set
- Torque Wrench
- Combination Wrench Set
- Timing Light
- Abrasive Pad
Install Difficulty:
- Difficult Project
1. To start the installation of your new Mustang Fel-Pro 10111 Performance Head Gasket, if you're installing it while the engine is still in the vehicle, drain the coolant from engine.
2. Remove the Mustang air cleaner, carburetor, and plug wires from engine. It is a good idea to place cardboard over the intake so that nothing falls into the engine.
3. Next, remove the Mustang valve covers, distributor and coil. When removing the coil, pay close attention to how the wires are hooked up to ensure that they go back in their proper location. To remove the distributor, take off the hold down clamp and pull the distributor straight up. It may be necessary to rotate the distributor back and forth to break it loose. Place all of the fasteners in bags and label them. This will aid in reassembly.
4. Next remove the Mustang intake manifold, rocker arms and pushrods. If your engine is equipped with stud mounted adjustable rocker arms, first loosen the inner hex head poly lock, then remove the rocker arm nut. If your engine has pedestal mounted rocker arms, simply remove the bolt in the center of the rocker arm. It is crucial when disassembling an engine that you label all parts that will be reused. All parts must go back in the same location that they were removed from.
5. Remove the head bolts, then you can finally pull the head off. The old Mustang engine gasket material needs to be removed from the block and from the heads. Use an abrasive pad. Try to refrain from using a wire brush, as the wire from the brush can become lodged in between the piston and the cylinder. This is also a good time to freshen up the paint on your engine as well.
6. Fel-Pro head gaskets are directional and are clearly marked front and back. Make sure that the word front is towards the front (timing cover side) when installing.
7. The Fel-Pro gasket should look like this when it is correctly installed.
8. Install the Mustang cylinder head making sure that it is lined up with the alignment dowel. Do not force the head into place. Once the head is seated, reinstall the head bolts. Torque the bolts to the specs recommended by the manufacturer of the bolts.
9. Next, reinstall the Mustang rocker arms. The first set goes in the engine at top dead center. To do this, rotate the engine clockwise until you notice the intake lifter on the #1 cylinder begin to move. Continue rotating the engine until the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer lines up with the timing pointer. Your engine is now at top dead center on the #1 cylinder.
10. Next, insert the intake and exhaust Mustang pushrods into their respective locations. Then, reinstall the rocker arms in their respective locations. The next step is to set the adjusting nut on the rocker arm of the intake valve on the #1 cylinder. To do this, slowly tighten the adjusting nut with one hand while rotating the pushrod with your other hand. Continue tightening the nut until you begin to feel drag while rotating the pushrod. This is zero lash.
11. Once you are at zero lash, you can set the preload on the hydraulic lifter. To do this, put a wrench on the adjusting nut and tighten it 1/2 turn.
Finally, hold the adjusting nut with a wrench and tighten down the set screw inside of the adjusting nut. Follow this procedure on the exhaust valve of the #1 cylinder. This same procedure is used on the other 7 cylinders. To set up the next cylinder rotate the engine clockwise 90 degrees. This will set the next cylinder in the firing order at top dead center. Set up those rocker arms then rotate the engine another 90 degrees and set the next cylinder in the firing order. Continue working your way through the firing order until all of the rocker arms have been adjusted.
302 Firing Order: 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
351w Firing Order: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4–8
302 Firing Order: 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
351w Firing Order: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4–8
12. Now it is time to install the intake manifold. Be sure that both mating surfaces are free of any old gasket material. When installing the intake manifold, always use a Mustang gasket sealer on passages that will see water. Also put a dab of sealant where the cork gasket in the valley meets the gasket that seals the intake to the head.
13. Torque the Mustang intake manifold bolts to 25 ft./lbs. using the following sequence.
14. Next install the Mustang distributor. To install the distributor, set the #1 cylinder to top dead center (refer to step 10 for this procedure). Insert the distributor into the block. The rotor should be pointing in the direction of where the #1 cylinder marking on the distributor cap will be when the cap is installed.
15. Install the Mustang spark plug wires. Start with the number one cylinder on the distributor cap and work your way through the firing order in a counter clockwise direction. The following illustration shows the cylinder numbers of a Small Block Ford.
16. Finally reinstall the carburetor and accessories. If your engine is in the vehicle, fill it with coolant and you can start the engine. Once the engine is running, be sure to set the timing, which completes the installation of your new Mustang Fel-Pro Performance Head Gasket.
