Blown Head Gasket update !!

wag2610

Just like to say thanks for all the replys and advice from the forum.
Update from mechcanic is that 2 of the pistons are scorched and that i will need a new engine !! his quote was £1500:eek:. I decided to pay him a visit in his workshop to see the damage for myself.

He has shown me the 2 pistons effected by damage. The piston rings are still intact but they do have what could be described as burn marks up the side and also in the cylinders. I have decided not to go ahead with the repair as car is 54 plate(gutted). Think my best bet is to salvage turbo, starter motor and alternator etc and scrap the shell.

Good night Astra and a hard lesson learnt to always fix water leaks lol

shown73

Back in the "good old days," it could probably be re-bored, with new pistons etc., and rebuilt for a lot less. Is this still an option, just out of interest? Don't hear much about it nowadays. Manufacturing tolerances are much tighter now, and materials technology has moved on, so perhaps this has died out?? Just interested.

Joe_Horner

shown73 wrote: »

Back in the "good old days," it could probably be re-bored, with new pistons etc., and rebuilt for a lot less. Is this still an option, just out of interest? Don't hear much about it nowadays. Manufacturing tolerances are much tighter now, and materials technology has moved on, so perhaps this has died out?? Just interested.

It can still be done, but is usually more expensive than replacing with a ready-rebuilt engine.

eta: if you were doing the work yourself, it sounds like you might get away with honing the bores and new rings but I can't see a garage taking the chance of doing that and having it not work.

SLITHER99

It depends on the part, but 99% of people in garages aren't mechanics; they're fitters. If they don't know how to do something, they'll want to just replace it.

TradePro

SLITHER99 wrote: »

99% of people in garages aren't mechanics; they're fitters. If they don't know how to do something, they'll want to just replace it.

This cliche is used all of the time, could you perhaps give us some examples of components that would be better fixed than replaced? Thanks.

Joe_Horner

TradePro wrote: »

This cliche is used all of the time, could you perhaps give us some examples of components that would be better fixed than replaced? Thanks.

PSA BE 3/5 gearbox if 5th gear fails - about 45 minutes to strip the synchro out in-situ compared to ??? hours to pull and replace the box, plus the hub is cheaper than a complete box.

Daf "A" body variomatic primary unit because there are probably only about 4 good spares known to humanity so they shouldn't be used on simple seal / bearing failures without othe damage.

Triumph 1300 fwd gearbox (for the same rarity reasons)

On the other hand, seeing as those are unlikely to cross your local garage's threshold in the near future, not sure they really count against your point

TradePro

Indeed Joe - I was referring to vehicles that didn't need a cranking handle to start them

Joe_Horner

TradePro wrote: »

Indeed Joe - I was referring to vehicles that didn't need a cranking handle to start them

The Daf and the Triumph (at a push) maybe, but I am NOT hand-cranking the XUD in my Pug!!!!! :rotfl:

red_eye

shown73 wrote: »

Back in the "good old days," it could probably be re-bored, with new pistons etc., and rebuilt for a lot less. Is this still an option, just out of interest? Don't hear much about it nowadays. Manufacturing tolerances are much tighter now, and materials technology has moved on, so perhaps this has died out?? Just interested.

nope the engineer just have to work to a tighter tolerance even old skool machines can do the job

red_eye

Joe_Horner wrote: »

PSA BE 3/5 gearbox if 5th gear fails - about 45 minutes to strip the synchro out in-situ compared to ??? hours to pull and replace the box, plus the hub is cheaper than a complete box.

Daf "A" body variomatic primary unit because there are probably only about 4 good spares known to humanity so they shouldn't be used on simple seal / bearing failures without othe damage.

Triumph 1300 fwd gearbox (for the same rarity reasons)

On the other hand, seeing as those are unlikely to cross your local garage's threshold in the near future, not sure they really count against your point

These cars are really old, most of the mechanics of that era are dead or retired.

Theses are old cars that new mechanics will not have seen or knew existed. Like me, all I know is that theses are old does that make me a fitter?

I have stripped a gearbox, the amount of time it takes and the tools needed would cost the customer more then a recon box fitted. The cost of these tools and the amount of use it will see means that you will not find them in my box. A 10.8v 3/8 impact wrench on the other hand is one of the most used.

oh and a box can be pulled out of a car in less then 40mins:p

atrixblue.-MFR-.

red_eye wrote: »

These cars are really old, most of the mechanics of that era are dead or retired.

Theses are old cars that new mechanics will not have seen or knew existed. Like me, all I know is that theses are old does that make me a fitter?

I have stripped a gearbox, the amount of time it takes and the tools needed would cost the customer more then a recon box fitted. The cost of these tools and the amount of use it will see means that you will not find them in my box. A 10.8v 3/8 impact wrench on the other hand is one of the most used.

oh and a box can be pulled out of a car in less then 40mins:p

untill you hit a porsche 944 gearbox and clutch replacement then youll have [STRIKE]not so much[/STRIKE]fun!.