nathansmith50

I've read that the 4.6 head gaskets can be reused. Is this the case?

also are the valves from the NPI heads the same as the PI heads?

Here's my reason.

The heads are torqued onto the car it's timed and i start turning it only to hear a loud snap. i turn it again to see that it's a valve sticking...i feel around and it's definitely bent.

So obviously i have to take the head back off the car. but I've also obviously never fired it.

71_340

Two things:

1. Your valve timing was not correct!
2. I would never reuse a head gasket, to much work to replace it should it leak.

Next time when you think that you have your engine "timed" turn it over by hand, don't force anything, and make sure your marks are lined up after turning it over several times.

nathansmith50

no the timing was correct. i knocked a rocker arm askew when torquing the cam in and didn't notice so when i turned the motor over it bent the valve.

Stevo86

The follower held the valve open?

Some head gaskets are can be re-used but I've really only ever seen it done in high performance applications where you're in the pits and gotta re-use the gasket if you wanna make the next round. For a daily driver I would definitely just get another set.