[foolsp33d]

well i popped/split a heater hose the other week.. I thought it was odd the temp guage was rising and falling and rising.. pulled over, yep split hose SPEW.. sweet FA in tools, a hose clamp, a pair of scissors, a roll of go fast tape and a half bottle of JD... well needless to say few shots of JD were had, the tape wrapped around the split hose, then the hose clamp over the tape.. it worked! Lasted 3 days before I got around to replacing it! and didnt loose any coolant! Bonus!!!

So this morning I head out, crank it over.. hmm somethings not right there.. that sound LIKE a flat battery.. but isnt.. odd.. car fires up.. bit rough..nothin unusual.. bit smelly thou! pop bonnet, remove air cleaner...EWWWWW!!! It looks like a baby has taken a huge dioreah shit in my airfilter Im presuming this is water mixed with oil, and it frothing and coming out the top[ of the rocker cover?!?

How hard is it to change the g13a/b/bb/ba head gasket!? I realise water pump timing belt etc have to come off. but should be a weekend job right!? Will I have to worry about having the head reco'd, crack tested etc?
The engine is aprox 15 thousand k old and like all things with a warranty.. its been and gone

I use the car as a daily to and from work, so having it in at a mechanics while they determine exatclty how much I should pay, and then carry out the work, isnt realy a viable option.

Iv replaced head gaskets before on a toyota(22r) engine, with no major difficulties, although I did get that head crack tested and checked.

So.. Whos done it recently? Wheich gasket kit would you suggest? Any other things to consider?

If it was taken to a mechanic, would it be worth putting ina cam or having head work done while it was in there!? What do YOU consider a fair price for what would need to be done!?

[joeblow]

bring it over my joint on the long weekend with a few brewskies

[BAZZOOK]

I'd definately give it a haircut and crack test. $50.00 well spent

[Brett]

its a very easy job. get a manual and it will tell you every thing you need to know.

if it got really hot it might of warped the head.

i'd just put the gasket in and if it does it again look at getting it shaved and tested if not your home free.

[kenn]

See you at Joe,s on the weekend .. Many hands make bourbon disappear faster

[Bruce]

bwhahah sooooooooooo true. Your a good bloke there Joe.
What goes around comes around mate.

[joeblow]

mmm.....on the tools weekend at my joint by the sound of it then.






i allready have g-wagon and cj confirmed as also comming...........(fibbing)

[kenn]

i allready have g-wagon and cj confirmed as also comming...........(fibbing)


Hey what they do on their own time ,is for their wives to worry about

[Built4thrashing]

have yu got the required gaskets yet? i've got a head and both manifolf gaskets here if you need to borrow them. Just replace them later as im gonna need them for the 2nd rebuild im gonna do.


Fool ya got my number.



B4T

[foolsp33d]

ROFL..

sounds good.. whens good to come round!? Scored tomorrow off, so will chase up VRS gasket kit..I think repco's was around the $170 mark?(anyone know a better price-Melbourne) oils, coolant,filters, guess plugs should be done to..
think of anythin else??

Oil wise, is it a good idea to dump whats

Whats the poison? Still on the whites Mr Joe,Kenny? ..not women.. Bouron!
Shadoo ok to come? let me know what day/night..

[joeblow]

ummm...white women are good.....i mean bourbon.

call a place in bayswater called pistons auto parts for your vrs kit then shoot off down the road to bursons for all the other stuff.

either sun and monday or sat and sunday are good for me, but will let you know by tommorow. and yes, dog is cool ............so are white women........

[foolsp33d]

hahahaha rockin Joe Cheers mate! what you think about crack test? or just cross the fingers n toes??!

i'll bring a club.. and drag some of them cave women from the local down the road shall I i'll make sure they are white and not Emo thou..

[foolsp33d]

Suggested place for the VRS is TOPS value Joe!! much appreciated!!!!!!!

Highly suggested to anyone else.. 9729 9522
link: http://www.pistons.com.au/

[joeblow]

no drama. sat and sun good for me.

[foolsp33d]

Sounds the goods mate! Muchly appreciated!!!!

dont have any interest for a spare toasted 1.3 do you!?

[foolsp33d]

back from bayswater..

h
EzyFit VRS: DN480/1ez = $65.00
Gates T/belt: T095 (89x19) =$20.00

BARGAIN!!! Highly recomended!!

[Built4thrashing]

if ya have an od toasted 1.3 you dont want ill get it out of your way.


Let me know

B4T

[kenn]

Damb it cant be there till Monday DOH!

[foolsp33d]

If its ok with you Joe, Is sunday monday ok!? I hit the white...cans last night and am feeling rather under the weather currently.. I guess this way Mr Ken can get his hands dirty to lol

[joeblow]

might just have to be sunday..............might leave the monday for the missus and kid.

[foolsp33d]

sweet as Joe. Will leave Tempy around 9 or so. Thanks again mate!!

[foolsp33d]

been delayed from the 9am.. Let me know if its ok to come up Joe, If not will just have to cough over the $ during the week and get someone to do it while i at work

[foolsp33d]

well I started the journey to Joes.. just past ringwood, temp decides to climb, so pull over, cool her down(carrying 8 litres of water for these situations ) babied it back home..

so.. where im at now..


what iv found..

odd colour dust behind timing belt cover...makes me think of NT FNQ dust.. not somethin we see in vic...


hmmm yummy....


the phillips head the marker pen is showing was 3/4 unscrewed :rolleyes:


bit of a leak behind the dizzy to...( i know some did seep from the head but ALOT of that was there PRIOR to removal ) hmmm quality mechanics Iv been using huh...




The culprit!
3 4

1 2



hmm now should I just get it back together without doin a crack test etc.. or do I risk it and hope for the best.. hmmmm





THE DILEMA!
I cant REALLY afford the time off the road, need car to get to work, if public transport actually WENT where i needed to go.. i wouldnt be phased.. but having to spend around 2-2.5 hrs on PT.... FAAAARK THAT!! Anyone going through Doncaster to Dandy or Noble Park preferable bright n early tuesday mornin!!?? 6:45am +/- lol.. GIS A LIFT!! PLEEEZE!

[ball]

I'd be more worried about the head not being flat anymore than a crack.

If the head is outside the specs for flatness you will have trouble getting the gasket to seal correctly.

Most cracks that will cause problems in alloy heads can be seen without crack testing.

It looks like cylinder 3 has been burning water. I would be having a good look at the combustion chamber in that cylinder. Pay attention to the bridge between the valves. I have seen quite a few heads cracked between the valves. Some heads are a problem when cracked there and some aren't.

Your best bet would be to find an engine reconditioner that can pressure test the head. It will give you a better idea whether you will be looking for a new one.

[foolsp33d]

cyl. 4 has ALOT more carbon? build up than any other cyl..
looking at nbr 4(closest to gearbox)


looking at number one(radiator end)


Yeh I kinda guessed it would be best to have it crack tested.. thats the term i was chasing! cheers ball! Iv also got another G13A block and head here, so thinking if I have to take one in, I might as well take them both and see if either is suitable..

as for flatness, first thing tomorrow i will CAREFULLY remove all traces of the old gasket and see what it looks like with a brand spankin new metal ruler Cheers little cuz, you will be the envy of your classmates on Tuesday with the lovely aroma of burnt contaminated sump oil SUCKER!

Looking at things from the drivers side into the engine bay..
4.......................................................3

[Damo]

ball wrote:

I'd be more worried about the head not being flat anymore than a crack.

That would be my concern too. Especially considering that screw holding the cam cap on has come undone. They don't just come loose on their own, in my experience a nasty heat cycle (such as happens when you overheat the engine) will crack them loose. Generally if it gets hot enough to loosen those screws it's hot enough to bring the head surface out of spec.

As you mentioned, a steel rule and feeler gauges will tell you.

[ball]

Have you cleaned the top of the piston in number 3 or is that how it was found ?

A short steel rule is not ideal for checking. You need one that goes the complete length of the head as well as diagonally from corner to corner.

[foolsp33d]

No cleaning has been done.. everything is how it was when it came apart..

Im goin to have to bite the bullet and have it chekced huh..

reagarding the loose cam cover screw, But just the one!?? thats whats striking me as odd. I hear what your sayin bout heat and how it could cause the screw to back out, but wouldnt more than one be out!?

I should say about a month after the engine was in I noticed the water pump was leaking and had to take it back(at this stage it was still under the 12 month ''warranty''-yet I still had to pay for the new gasket/labor.. Also had a heli coil done at the time of original installation, which I had to pay for :S dosnt seem right if you ask me.. which makes me think RPM done a half arse job of doing the original ''reco'' but I might be wrong!!

quick question, cleaning the head down to work on it... whats the best way? I dont mind getting my hands dirty, but I dont want to have to take this covered in crud in the old girls car if it is goin in for checking!

Cheers fellas, id be sittin there scratchin my nuts, chain smokin wonderin what to do with out ya's, least this keeps both hands busy :LOL:

[ball]

There is a distinct lack of carbon on number 3 piston. This usually indicates that you have had water in the cylinder. I would be having a really good look at any way that water could have entered the bore. Look for porosity/erosion in the head and block where the water transfers between the two. Look for any sort of witness mark that the gasket hasn't been sealing in the same areas.

As for cleaning the cylinder, I use a nylon parts brush and $2 pressure pack degreaser cans from supercheap. Don't use a water based degreaser as most of these are alkali based and will corrode the head.

A good gasket scraper (not a shitty paint scraper) and some elbow grease to remove the old gaskets is the only way.

It might be worth throwing a set of valve stem seals in it while you have it off. A cheapo valve spring compressor from supercheap will get the springs refitted no worries but might struggle a bit to get them off if the engine has done a few K's.

If you have grief getting the springs off let me know and I will tell you another way of getting them off.

[kenn]

Hey Fools, sorry couldn't get there on Sat/Sun, had to go bush. Looks like you've been having fun any way
Ive got a valve spring compressor if you need it.