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[twosmoke300]

People overhype head gasket changing, it's not too bad, provided you do it by the book, with gasket sealant and the like.

There says a man who hasnt done one on a modern car , Hdi , Tdi PD etc

[dollywobbler]

Ideally you would have turned the engine to TDC before dismantling so you had timing reference points lined up.

Its not a big deal, but just be careful putting it back together that you dont get the timing 180 degrees out.

 

Actually, I did mark the camshaft, as I marked the belt position before taking the head off. I've not removed the belt yet, because I didn't want to lose that point of reference just yet. Anyway, job now on hold until I can find someone to do the skimming.

[richardthestag]

why ^^^ :/

 

I use "stag wellseal" where I can

 

Get a straight edge on that head, if it does need a skim it will needs valves out anyway. 

 

Crank engine to tdc, set the cam up for tdc also before reassembly, makes life a shit load easier and stops valves bending on pistons.

 

check each combustion chamber on the head for valve seat goodness with a bit of fuel / thinners etc. wind the cam over to get the cylinder you are checking on tdc, saves removing cam and rocker gear (what a weird setup that is

 

Looks like it will need a couple of cans of jizer and a jolly good backflush on the cooling system

 

what a mess

[dollywobbler]

I think I may have to take a chance on this one. Factoring in time, travel and expense, doing anything at all with the head is starting to push costs into a place I don't like very much. This car has already cost me £500, plus a gasket set and, if I'm sensible, a timing belt kit. Oh, and I must remember a thermostat.

 

By my eye, which isn't necessarily a good one, it seems pretty straight. I think I'd rather run the risk given I at least know it is a pretty easy job if it does all go tits up, and at least I know all the nuts will come undone...

 

Perfectionists look away now...

[beko1987]

WCPGW! You going to dishwasher tablet it clean before you fit a new stat?

[dollywobbler]

I've certainly seen that work before...

[dollywobbler]

It's ok lads. I've got it!

[twosmoke300]

Personally for an old banger I'd be checking the head with a straight edge and whacking it back together . I would prob even leave it on the old cambelt until I knew there were no further pressure / overheating issues . Does this have stretch bolts ?

[dollywobbler]

Personally for an old banger I'd be checking the head with a straight edge and whacking it back together . I would prob even leave it on the old cambelt until I knew there were no further pressure / overheating issues . Does this have stretch bolts ?

 

Apparently not. Similarly, I'm tempted to leave the belt. Doesn't look a hideous job to do, and it's not like I'm really that close to getting the old belt off. Looks like the engine mount needs removing to allow access. Mind you, I haven't actually slackened the adjuster yet, so I may have to take more stuff off yet. Belt could just about be pushed off the cam drive, though I suspect it won't go back on as easily...

[andy18s]

You have got to do a DW remake of that video!

"Let's see if the bitch will run, boyo"

[dollywobbler]

You have got to do a DW remake of that video!

"Let's see if the bitch will run, boyo"

 

I'll translate that into English. "I say, let's see if the good lady will deign to fire into life what?"

[andy18s]

Tbh that video does make sense If you have a flat surface for the paper

If nothing else it will clean the crap off the face and give a clue as to whether a skim is needed or not...

[trigger]

Don't know if it's any help but here's the Autodata guide to the cambelt.

 

 

 

[Snipes]

I did the cambelt on my Silvia turbo years ago and it was a piece of pee even for me.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Triggs.

[dollywobbler]

And after a homebrew skim, this is what it looks like. Two grades of sandpaper under a flat piece of glass. Definitely better, still not perfect.

 

Seems to be that the most important areas are around the cylinders, as that's where most pressure is. These areas seem well and there doesn't seem to be any distortion in the head. It is still a bit mucky around the water galleries, but I'm hoping the lower pressure of coolant means this won't be a problem. I guess we'll see...

 

Trigg - have you got the Autodata pages with the head tightening sequence?

[twosmoke300]

  9------3------1-------5--------7

 

 

10------4------2-------6--------8

[twosmoke300]

Oh and tidy your workshop FFS 

[dollywobbler]

Thanks! And leave me alone. The workshop is actually tidier than my garage!

 

Oh, what are the torque settings?

[twosmoke300]

Too old for my data system im afraid

[dollywobbler]

Too old for my data system im afraid

 

It's ok. Ratdat has the answer. 22lb/ft, then 58, then loose, then 54-61. That's pretty inexact! It's also much higher than my little torque wrench can handle...

[trigger]

I can check my autodata book when I'm home if you like.

[dollywobbler]

It's ok. Ratdat has done the job.

 

I've just taken a closer look at the head, and I'm not happy about the edge of cylinder 4. Looks distinctly crinkly to me.

[Junkman]

The head should be skimmed.

[oldcars]

  9------3------1-------5--------7

 

 

10------4------2-------6--------8

This made me this of this for some reason.

[richardthestag]

Purely on the basis of doing it orn the cheep the following bodges might dig you out of a hole

 

assuming that you cannot borrow a torque wrench, get a breaker bar, measure 1 foot from the centre of the square bit the socket goes on, use a jubilee clip to secure your fishing spring balance, pulling on that should get you to the right ft/lb setting. far from ideal but needs must and interested to see how it goes.

 

re that head^^ does the crinkle match the location of a hgf blow through? If not get some sealer like wellseal and lube it up. the fire ring (snigger) is quite wide and that damage doesnt look like it goes right across. if the gasket did blow through there probably could use a skim

[dollywobbler]

re that head^^ does the crinkle match the location of a hgf blow through? If not get some sealer like wellseal and lube it up. the fire ring (snigger) is quite wide and that damage doesnt look like it goes right across. if the gasket did blow through there probably could use a skim

 

Sadly, that is one of the places I think it had failed. Did a very similar spot on number three cylinder - the spark plug on that cylinder was mouldy when it came out! I may have to concede defeat on the redneck skim and get it done properly.

[Asimo]

If you must do a redneck skim on a head, dont use abrasive paper use grinding paste, much easier and much less likely to ruin things.

 

But that head needs a skim, and I would get it pressure tested first 'coz it looks as if it might be a bit porous.

[trigger]

I know your getting it from all barrels today DW but that head probably should be skimmed, saves you doing the job twice which inevitably be happening again if you don't. Here's what the Autodata book has on it, i don't know if it helps at all.

 

 

[twosmoke300]

(Datsun). 😄