97 head question

I just picked up a 97 Bravada for next to nothing. The reason it was so cheap, the owner was told it had a blown head gasket. He didn't want to pay to have it done, so he attempted to do it himself. He then lost his storage/working location and realized that it was over his head for the time he had, so I got it from him, as a basket case. It turned out it was the intake manifold gasket (144xxx Mi), but he already had the heads off. So, I decided since the heads were off I would just do a valve job on them, and put it back together. In the gasket set, in the bag for the valve seals, there was 2 clear plastic tubes, and I have no idea where they may go. There was nothing like them on the heads when I got it, but as I said, he had them off, and there were 2 small pieces close to them in his "parts bucket". Does anyone know where they belong, or if they are necessary? Second question, one of the exhaust manifold bolts is a stud, and since it was already off, I do not know the location of the stud. Anyone know which bolt is the stud?

On some engines.
Left front head on front uses a stud with thread on both ends for mounting PS bracket.


The plastic tubes are valve seal installation tools.

If high mileage you may want to have machine shop check heads and valves and guides and valve seals.
Good Luck

Thanks for that. I have access to a shop, so I had the heads stripped, washed, magnafluxed, reground, ect. Springs were checked, seals replaced, the whole rebuild. I just picked up the new head bolts last night, so I was looking forward to getting the heads on today. Thanks again.

New head bolts is good.
Let us know how it goes.
Good luck.

Its getting together fine. I got the heads on and it looked so bare I put the intake on it today as well. That put me ahead of schedule. I still need to get the dist on, but exhaust manifolds are on, intake manifold on, all wires and hoses found a home. I need to get the plugs, cap, rotor and possibly wires this weekend. Ill keep ya informed. Thanks again.

Here is a link on setting the dist.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=881442

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51302

Let us know how it goes.
Good luck

Got it all together, went to turn it over and crossed all my fingers. First thing I noticed when I turned the key on (not to start) was the oil pressure and fuel gauge pegged far right. The second thing I noticed was no relays clicking when the key was turned to on, and no fuel pump hum. Fuel pressure gauge was already hooked up, but reading on it was 0. Lastly, for today anyway, there was no spark at any wire. The grounds on the back of both heads were cleaned and check out good. The dist cap and rotor are new. New plugs. Wires ohmed out pretty good, so I haven't changed them yet. I'll look into the ign switch next, unless you or someone has a better suggestion. I may not get to it until Monday, girlfriend is already pissed that I'm spending so much time on the computer, at the neighbors and in the shop on her long weekend. Thanks for the heads up so far.

EDIT : Forgot to mention, all fuses checked out good.

Ya give up on me MT? I'm just messing with ya. I figured there had to be a connection not plugged in with all the electrical issues. I decided to go out and look, even though it upset my GF a bit, and went over everything I could think of. Checked the ign switch, and it checked out good. Started going over everything I did, lightly tugging on all connections. All were good. I then looked over the main harness, the thick one along the firewall, and followed it. Right above the power booster for the master cylinder there is a black plastic housing or shield. I took that sucker down, and the main harness was unplugged inside of that. Summana beech. I plugged it in, turned the key to run, fuel and oil gauge read right, and fuel pump primed. Turned the key to start, and it started right up. Ran rough for about 20 seconds then smoothed out. I didn't run it long since I have no water in it yet, but ran it for maybe 2 - 4 minutes at most. Thing purred good as new. Just wanted to say thanks again.