Head Gasket and a newbie

[dbusher]

My headers are getting loud.  I was told to tighten the bolts.  Did that..still loud. 
Had a mechanic friend take a look and he believes my left head gasket is blown...due to the sound and the fact that you can see oil in the back. 

Question:   
Do I replace both gaskets since I am going to spend time replacing one anyway? 
Can a newbie do this in 6-8 hours?
Any advise for me to not screw it up real bad :-) 
Do I need to drain the oil first?

I have a couple of good books on the subject so I will be sure to read those also.

Thanks

[VileZambonie]

I highly doubt it's your head gaskets. Clean the back of the engine and run it. check the distributor base gasket, intake gasket and oil pressure sender for leaks.

As far as the exhaust leaks use a mechanic's stethoscope to pinpoint where the leak is loudest.

[dbusher]

ok will do... guess I need to learn  what those are also 

[jaredts]

Usually when exhaust is leaking from a header or exhaust manifold, tightening the bolts won't fix it.  Generally the gasket starts to break apart by that point and you have to replace the gasket.  Just what I have always run into.  You tighten the bolts and it gets a little quieter, but you're just bending the manifold/header because there is no gasket left next to the bolt you are tightening.  I would suggest loosening all the bolts and get a good look at the gasket.  Maybe your friend saw something that made him think head gasket, but the noise is not a symptom of that.

[Lt.Del]

easy enough to check though.  pull the plug wire where you think the noise is coming from.  no explosion then.  Then, no sound--sort of. 

do a compression test as well.

[Irish_Alley]

now why would the head gasket cause it to get louder. what I'm trying to say is whats oil leaking have to do with headers? but anyway to go with what was said above your gasket is probably blown go to autozone get some aluminum gaskets they are reusable you just need to know if you have round or square flanges also check your collector gasket. as for the oil there are numerous gaskets like vile said that could cause that problem

[dbusher]

OK.  I am taking a couple days off to see if I can fix this.  So,  Do I need to drain the oil or anything before I remove the bolts and look at the gaskets? 
I have a big Chevy shop manual and a Chilton manual and I am surprised it does not provide much info on this. 
Looks like the noise is on the Right side (looking at truck from front). And it looks like that would be the hardest side to fix because of all the other stuff attached to it.
I have no idea what type of gaskets it takes so I plan on removing and bringing one down to autozone.
Thanks for all the help so far. 

[dbusher]

so..let me go back to my original question because gasket replacement vids on youtube are freaking me out... 

Can a newbie do this in 6-8 hours?

Youtube shows some people removing the whole engine. I think I just need to remove the 6 bolts on the side and slip out the old and slip in the new.

[4x4orbust]

i replaced my own heads on my 82,  it was pretty straightforward and easy enough.   make sure to mark everything (hoses, distributor, nuts, bolts, EVERYTHING)  and get a good book to help you along.  I have a service manual from gm that helps.  hopefully you have the tools (basic sockets and torque wrenches) and dig in.  I don't know about 6-8 hours, took me about a day and a half, but it was my first time.

[jaredts]

I'm a little confused.  Are you asking how long it takes to change the exhaust gaskets?  Not head gaskets, right?  Head gaskets won't happen for a newbie in 6-8 hours...or twice that.  Exhaust gaskets can be easy but a lot can go wrong.

[Lt.Del]

a compression tester is quite inexpensive.  I'd check all cylinder compression before taking  a stab at the head gasket.  If you're talking exhaust manifold gaskets, header gaskets, piece of cake.

[Irish_Alley]

cant remember but i think autozone rents the tester

[dbusher]

I'm a little confused.  Are you asking how long it takes to change the exhaust gaskets?  Not head gaskets, right?  Head gaskets won't happen for a newbie in 6-8 hours...or twice that.  Exhaust gaskets can be easy but a lot can go wrong.

Well..now I am confused.  The post below yours says Head Gaskets are piece of cake.  I tightened up the 4 bolts that attach the headers (long pipes coming off the engine) and the noise is still there.  I have had a couple of truck saavy friends look and they tell me the same thing..I need to take the headers off and replace the thin gasket that goes between the headers and the engine. Looks pretty straight forward actually. No better way to learn then to just do it so I am scheduling some time off next week and will start digging in.  Thanks for the help

[dbusher]

oh wait....maybe there is a difference between HEAD gasket and HEADER gaskets.   Sorry,  I am really new to this.   

[Lt.Del]

maybe there is a difference between HEAD gasket and HEADER gaskets.   

I say, here is from my earlier post....

If you're talking exhaust manifold gaskets, header gaskets, piece of cake.  

Heads, headers, what's the difference.   ALOT!

You have two cylinder heads that makes for quite a complex task of changing gaskets.. You have to remove the carb/TBI, intake manifold, distributor, etc...to get to the cylinder heads with the valves (both exhaust valves and intake valves).  

Header gaskets/exhaust manifold gaskets are a piece of cake.  Loosen the bolts, put in another gasket. Tighten up.