I thought stock head bolts stretch and that's why you're not suppose to reuse them!

 

All head bolts stretch...the stockers are torque to yield though, so once they stretch once they won't tq to spec again

 

on your third radiator????????

compression test before removing the head
replace the head and exhaust studs.
100k timing kit.
head gasket
rocker cover gaskets
thermostat and gasket
extractors
hi-flow cat
cams
valve springs
slight port to the head
piggyback ecu

 

I like the way you guys think! Now, if I could just find the DIY on getting this beast apart that would be a godsend.

I can pick up a bone stock 2JZge vvt-i a local mechanic has. There were 55k miles on it when the car was wrecked. Should I even consider it? He sold the ECU which is a pain but let's assume I can find one.

W/r/t why this is on the third radiator: The originals came with plastic tops. After being baked for many years, the original developed a crack. I replaced it with an all metal one. When the seam between the base and top of that one split it did so very gradually. It took forever to track down the very minor leak. Then it ruptured. That may be when the head gasket actually started leaking. I blamed it on a stuck thermostat and replaced it and the gasket as well as the upper and lower hoses when I installed the new radiator about two months ago. Since this has been my daughter's daily driver since I bought the AMG, it takes longer to diagnose when things are wrong.

The compression test showed 120 psi in the #1 cylinder, enough said.
I am replacing the head and exhaust studs.
I bought the GE head gasket but am now considering going with a GTE HG instead.
Yes, I have and will replace all of the other gaskets.
Hi-flow cats are hard to do for street legal cars in California. If someone has a source, I am willing to seriously consider it.

I will look up some of the other suggested items. Some of these terms are new to me, e.g. piggyback ecu. Sorry to be such a nube but I just haven't done any mods to this car. This is the first real opportunity and I want to get set up for taking it back for my own use.

 

me and my dad are replaceing my head gaskets on my 92 es300 cos of leaks and we want to know if we need to get new head bolts or can we use the old ones that still look good

 

Do not ever reuse stock head bolts they are torque to yield (1 application) just buy a set of ARP's and be done.
Make sure you deck the head and follow the tsrm for torque sequence and go to 90#'s on the ARP's. in 3 revolutions.(put the ARP studs in hand tight only with the supplied assembly lube)