Head Gasket - How difficult?

Keith

I've been reading the trusty Haynes as I need to remove the head from my cars engine to have a Stem Seal changed.

It's an 8v engine and all seems pretty straight forward, my main worry is the cambelt.

Local garages want big money to do the full job, or it's £65 to have the head skimmed and the new stem seals fitted, plus £60 for head gasket and bolts.

How difficult is it? Haynes say 3 spanners, I've done 4 and 5 spanner jobs in the past, but touching the engine scares me

anewman

I've taken a head off an over head valve 1.3 Skoda engine to save it as a spare part and it wasn't that difficult, but being an OHV there was no cam belt to worry about. I admit I haven't got around to putting such things together yet.

So long as you're careful and remember where all the connectors go (probably best to label them), follow the bolt removal/tightening sequence and so long as you can do the cam belt I think you'll be fine.

You could even give the stem seals a go yourself, I think the spring compressor tools are about £30.

Most I've ever done is a 3 spanner job so give yourself a pat on the back I think you'll be fine if you can handle the 5 spanner jobs.

hewhoisnotintheknow

if you do do it, before you start take lots of pictures of everything with a digi cam, i do this, saved my skin a few times

vaio

You can generally do stem seals without taking the head off.

Plugs out
Cam off
Feed as much rope as possible into a cylinder
Turn engine so piston pushes rope against valve heads
Pop spring and change seal

I think you can also do it by screwing an air line connection into a plug hole and use air pressure to hold the valves shut.

Obviously the normal stuff about valve timing etc applies

Sailor_Sam

I've stripped engines down, gearboxes, the lot, all with just the help of a Hayes manual. I think as long as you have a garage at home to work in, and you're not desparate to finish it on time, you'll have no problems.
As you say the Timing Belt, is the hardest bit. I've done these and sometimes had to get a special tool, it depends on the car.
I think only once i came unstuck and had to get a mobile mechanic to come to the house to do the final bits to a job, but still saved as i'd done most of the work myself.
Good Luck.

tomstickland

Only important thing is to clearly mark the relative positions of the cam and crank sprockets before you take it apart. Since the crank does two revolutions for one of the cam, you need to make sure that you do it when cylinder no1 is at TDC - shine a torch down plug hole to check.

pianeet

i don't know about head gasket being 3 spanners but the way headlight bulbs are going they have to be a 4 spanner job,i can't believe it took me 45 minutes to change a headlamp bulb last night,,;)

steveo3002

what car keith?

things that might catch you out are rusted exh fixings , and be aware the timing needs to be right , id triple check all the marks before trying to start the car

assuming you have a decent selection of tools it should be easy to carry out the job over a weekend , be handy to have a spare car/mate that that can run you around for tools/spares

Keith

It's a 205 GTi, I just got rid of scrap engine a month ago or could have stripped that one down to try.

I've a fair selection of tools and also a week off work to swap the HG and fit a new rear axle, no garage though

Anewman - 18 months ago I couldn't change a spark plug, then I did a thermostat and radiator swap, then over last winter an engine change

steveo3002

only one way to learn then...we all have to start somewhere

just take your time and double check all the important bits

id start soaking the manifold/downpipe nuts now

Keith

Steve - Exactly!

Deep end - Sink or Swim.