[Ratman407]

Hi guys

So I finally got around to installing a g16B in to my Sierra and was driving it around for a while
Before a hose split and lost all my coolant and I’m 90% sure I wrapped the head

So I’m going to put a brand new head on it but I’m just wondering if there’s anything else I need to check out like the block as a result of the heat

She still drives fine if on the highway but 5-10 minutes doing 60k in traffic and she over heats


The plans to put a new radiator in while I’m going as the old one had seen better days
And figured I may as well do the water pump while I’m in there

Anything else I should do ?

[Gwagensteve]

You’re not going to want to hear this, and others will/may disagree, but I’d throw the motor away and get another one, preferably from a baleno.

G motors are very flexible and don’t like being pulled apart. For the money in a new head and cost of installation, a fresher motor that’s been unopened is likely to be more reliable long term.

Out of interest, what fan setup were you using?

Steve.

[Ratman407]

Yeah I though about that but then there the issue of if I buy that motor it’s an unknow 2 it might last longer or it might die in 5 minutes plus just the cost of getting a new wiring harness is half the price of a brand new head
Not to mention I have to have it up and going in a months time so finding one then getting it all sorted in that time is pushing it
And I will do the install my self I have done heads before on other cars so I’m not going in completely blind

Think it’s the strandard fan from the g16b with the free spinning hub

[Gwagensteve]

You don’t need a new loom- just a long motor. Will be a quicker job than swapping the head, considering you need to pull the cam to replace the head.

I’m advising you to go down this path exactly because the chances are an unopened motor will outlast a head replacement, not because the chances are worse.

[Ratman407]

What’s a long motor ?

Most baleno would be coilpavk so wouldn’t it be rather different to an early model dizzy motor ?

[Gwagensteve]

A long motor is a complete motor without manifolds and bolt on accessories, because you’ll reuse yours anyway.

To convert a coil pack motor to distributor, swap your cam and distributor over- that’s it. Then all the efi/manifolds etc are from your existing motor. This also allows you to use a dizzy baleno motor as a donor which most Sierra people aren’t interested in.

[Ratman407]

Ok so now I’m not even sure if the head is gone or not
There no creamy oil or anything anywhere
I put the new radiator in and it’s been running for 30 minutes and hasn’t really left cold mind you it’s only sitting on idle
Will try and drive it on weekend to see what it does

Really the only sign I have that it’s the head was when you started it with the radiator cap off it would shoot 6 foot in the air
Which I’m guessing now could also be an issue with the old radiator will have to try with the new one once it cools down

Is there any way to test the head without taking it off ?
Every other time I seem a head go the oil has gone creamy so I’m lost

[Gwagensteve]

Is it using coolant?

[Ratman407]

It’s down a little from full but with it being the first top up with the new radiator it could just have been air pockets
Will top it up and go for a run this afternoon to see what it does

[Gwagensteve]

From what I’ve seen they rarely put oil in the water, they just use coolant when they do a head/gasket. (This is what mine is doing right now. Doesn’t use enough coolant for me to worry about it at the moment)

[BlueSuzy]

I've been through various G16b motors.
All coolant ends up in oil or out exhaust.

Sometimes better off buying full cars private and keeping/selling other parts.
Some wreckers will be dearer than a car for just a motor.

I've had my fair share of problems.

[Ratman407]

its using a little but it seems to be going fine otherwise so I will just keep it going and keep my eye out for a motor
althought im yet to get it out 4wd been pissing down so nobody is game enough to go out with me

[Ratman407]

So everything from the vitara should just swap over to a baleno motor even though it’s a coil pack ?

Or will I still need to mod stuff ?