Changing Head Gasket

[autograsser 0]

was racing at the weekend and head gasket is gone on no1 cylinder, has anybody got and does and more importantly donts before i get stuck in, do i need to replace the liner seals or dont go near them??

 

any help appreciated

Edited June 15, 2009 by jackherer

[dcc 855]

dont forget the extra washer above the water pump when refitting the headbolts

 

personally wouldn't bother with the seals personally unless the liners were moved whilst head was off.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

Don't miss the chance for a head refresh, if it hasn't been done recently. New cam(s) - aftermarket exhaust manifold?

[weejimmy 1]

get it checked to maker sure its not warped / cracked.

nothing worse than doing it to relise yor heads fekd

[autograsser 0]

get it checked to maker sure its not warped / cracked.

nothing worse than doing it to relise yor heads fekd

 

gonna get the head checked and skimmed was lloking at 3angle cut valves but ive heard a rumour its no point due to head design???

[Masekwm 2]

There is a fantastic post by GLPoomobile in the search regarding doing this. I found lots of Plusgas on the bolts & a decent draper socket piece made the whole thing much easier

[kilauea 7]

Just in the middle of doing mine. I'd say take your time, soak the bolts in penetrating oil every time you remember to. Same with the crank pulley bolt.

 

Change the stem seals while the heads off. Put your bolts and bits in envelopes and write on where they are from. Take loads of hi-res pictures at each stage so you can refer to when putting back together.

 

Make sure you got all tools you need before you start - good socket set, hose clip driver, torque wrench, spring compressors, a tiny spanner (6mm I think) for the tensioner.

 

If your manifold is seized on (like mine), don't round the bolts trying - just get the engineers to do it while its being skimmed. Don't be tempted to dive in scraping carbon off the pistons - do a search first for warnings.

 

That's what's fresh in my mind.

Edited June 15, 2009 by kilauea

[2-Pugs 57]

If you get a bolt that starts to go stiff once it's already 'loosened', then it could be on the way to snapping, so slow right down and be patient - work it back and forth slowly- and plenty of penetrating oil and eventually you should get it past the threads that are picking up and it will come out

 

Use new bolts, and coat them liberally with copper grease before putting them in, to stop them corroding/seizing.

 

The Haynes/Peugeot method of tightening is a bit OTT - instead of tightening to an angle, tighten to a torque. I did mine on the advice of Damir who got the method from Guy Croft and it has worked fine for me. Last thing you need is to snap a bolt on the way back together!

 

Also, don't touch the liners and don't turn the engine once the head is off. The liners will probably be pretty solidly stuck where they are but you dont want to take any chances, if they lift or get disturbed, you break the seals at the bottom which means engine out and full strip down.

 

Thats it, and just do as others have said as well.

 

I got my head refurbished and skimmed by QEP, they were really good; one week and £250, for that I got a corroded part welded, head skimmed and pressure tested, recut valve seats, new seals etc etc. So I would definitely recommend them.

[stevec205gti 0]

Don't let the torx bit pop out the top of the bolt head and the hand holding it fall down the back of the engine and then come back up again covered in claret with the bone showing and then go to hospital having to drive yourself after putting all your tools away and have to have 5 stitches in the back of your finger. That would be my advice.

[CosKev 16]

Don't let the torx bit pop out the top of the bolt head and the hand holding it fall down the back of the engine and then come back up again covered in claret with the bone showing and then go to hospital having to drive yourself after putting all your tools away and have to have 5 stitches in the back of your finger. That would be my advice.

 

LOL Thats great advice!!!!

 

Speaking from experience???????

[stevec205gti 0]

LOL Thats great advice!!!!

 

Speaking from experience???????

 

Yep - and I've a nice inch long scar with the stitch marks left to prove it. Fortunately, chicks dig scars.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

Yep - and I've a nice inch long scar with the stitch marks left to prove it. Fortunately, chicks dig scars.

 

Any pics? lol

[sub205 5]

i once killed a headbolt while unbolting the head... the bolt broke and my hand was cut about 3cm on the lower side of the thumb.

 

really, use something to lengten your tools like an old exhaust pipe or something ... i used nothing so the forces i put on the tool where really heavy and uncharget at a sharp corner of the cylinderhead when the screw cracked.

 

seconds later the tools flew trought the hole garage because i was really pissed off ;-)

 

anyway i got the engine finished one day later!

[stutto 0]

Be sure to have undone the bolt which secures the dipstick pipe before trying to take the head off...

[johny105_y2k 1]

i'll second the spacer closest to the waterpump, forget that then forget your engine.

 

other than that just take your time

[stutto 0]

Also don't forget to put the cambelt rear cover on after changing the waterpump and tensioner. It is a right PITA if you get the belt on and tensioned and then have to take it off again....

[stutto 0]

Sorry for double post, but whilst it is fresh in my mind:

 

Two trolley jacks make the raising/lowering of the engine easier as one supports the sump whilst the other supports the lower engine mount, allowing you to align the top mount. This is to get out/replace the 16 & 17mm bolts. A crane and two jacks may be ideal; crane to take the weight and the jacks to steer.

 

However you get it off, I would advise removing as much as possible ie exhaust manifold, thermostat housing and dizzy before attempting refitting. I didn't and because the car was on axle stands I found it difficult to locate the head in a controlled manner (weight and how high/far infront of you it needs to go) - expecially as the expansion tank pipes got in the way of the dizzy. You don't want to damage the gasket - especially if it is a Sunday and you can't get another...