help doing a head gasket please !!

[yellowgti]

ive decided change the head gasket as ive tried everything else to stop it over heating but im going try to do it myself, i have stripped off the injector system and rocker cover and air box and few radiator pipes, their is 8 torque bolts in the engine i know ive got to take them out and also the exhaust manifold, what do i do regarding the cam's and timing chain?? what else has to be taken off ?? thanks

[monkeyalan]

can't really help but i'd invest £16 in a haynes manual for peace of mind.

[Bam Bam]

Take your spark plugs out to make turning the engine over by hand much easier.

You need to set number 1 cylinder at TDC before removing the camshaft and pullies. Do this by insering a screwdriver carefully into the plug hole of No 1 Cyl and turn the engine over until the piston reaches the top, this must be done on the "firing stroke" which means the valves for that cyl must be closed.

Once you have reached that point you can remove the pullies and camshaft but be very careful to support the Camshaft Chain by keeping tension on it so it doesnt slip a tooth at the bottom, tie it up with something but dont let it become slack.

Mark everything with tippex such as position of camshaft and pullies etc and use as many datum points as you can to help you put things back where they were.

If you hav'nt got a Haynes Manual I'd buy one and when you are finished dont turn the engine over on the starter, if you have any doubts about your rebuild turn it over by hand first making sure it turns freely going through the four cycles on every cylinder, that way you'll not damage anything if you have made a mistake.

Good Luck.

Jim.      

[yellowgti]

well thank you very much m8ey that6s a great help but will i need any special tools??

[...joe]

should only need a torque wrench to do it a;ll back up again, everything else should be just normal tool box stuff. split the exhaust at the downpipe joint rather that trying to undo the manifolds as they are a cow!!!

[Gambit]

get a compression test done before you go to all that hassle. that will tell you if you have head gasket problems

[yellowgti]

ok i went with gambits choice, i had the compression test and he said basically the head gasket has gone as its forcing water back up through the expansion tank!!! oh dear i only paid 100 quid for the car and all in all i dont know wether to scrap it or get it fixed, also i havnt got a clue what its gonna fail on for the m.o.t as ive only noticed the zorst manifold is cracked and a patch of welding on the sill after all it is a d-reg car!! im a basic mechanic but willing to try everything??? ive took the rocker cover off and to finish doing the head gasket ive just gotta take the 8 torque bits off and the bottom bolts on the manifold also the bottom bolts on the injector rail is there anything else i need to do to get the head off ??

[Gambit]

if it only cost £100 id have a go at fixing the headgasket yourself. if you f**k it up im sure there will be plenty of people will to take the car back off you for £100!!

as for the cracked manifold, just smear some gungum into when its warm. i done this and was able to seal the crack!!

if you get it all sorted but cant MOT due to some structural chassis rot then just trackday the life right out of it!!

[yellowgti]

does any1 know which way to turn the 22mil bolt on the side of the cam to undo it ive tried both ways and im not getting any where, do you push it towards the windscreen or the headlights grill?? is it a special thread??thanks and just to make sure there isnt going to be any springs flying around when i take the head off is their?? thanks

[Veedubgt18v]

definately definately use new head bolts cos they are stretch bolts and if you dont your  car WILL run crap trust me on this