it is yes But your going to want to coat every thing under the valve cover in oil after you do so (cam, valve springs)

 

right on. also, during the cleaning several of the piston covers fell out, but i put them back in and now the head is drying out. is that okay? whats the best way to clean the parts where the head gasket goes in? i've ordered a new gasket for head and cct, and few o-rings last night.

 

Piston covers? Lifters are what comes to mind when you say this (based on the fact that they fell out). If I'm correct check them for damage before you reinstall. The best way to clean the head gasket seat is GENTLY with a wire wheel and gasket scraper. Be careful not to hurt the aluminum. After that use brakleen and a rag to get the surface dry and free of dirt and oils

 

you talking about the little covers on top of the springs?

 

yes, sir.

 

gasket scraper? they make a special tool for that? can I use wd-40 instead of brakleen?

 

I wouldn't call it a "special" tool. lol. It's like a chisel with only one side ground at a 45 degree angle. slides underneath the gaskets and lifts them off whatever surface quite nicely.

WD40 will degrease ok (i think?) but the brakleen will clean the surfaces and dries nice and clean

 

Cool. Looking forward to get the head cleaned, the new gaskets and putting it all back together which should be down the hill, i hope.

 

You are going to have to go through every cap and realign then so that your sure each cam is where it belongs and Make sure you did not loose your spacers from under each of them.

These spacers are what is used to take up the clearance on your valves and they have to go back to where they came from.
Mixing and matching well lead to to much/to little clearance and ether give you a tap or not allow the valve close completely.

Basicly your going to have to check the clearance for each and make sure they are with in spec if not move them around tell you find them to all be right.


[Start by removing all caps but one put the cam that goes over that valve
on and check your clearance. repeat this through all your valves tell all are with in spec]

 

damn. seemse like quite a bit of work. what i could to is swap the caps with the ones i have on my old head (exactly the way they are on there). would that work?