How can I replace head gasket myself?

[ImpactUK]

Head gasket has gone. Garage offered to replace the gasket, get the head skimmed and service it for 450 quid.
I want to have a go myself as money is tight, but i'd also like the experience. Is this a fairly simple job? The most work i've done on an engine is an oil change to be honest and i've never fiddled about with internals before.
Also if i get a used head, say, off eBay, would this give me a better chance of the HG not screwing up again?

I don't really want to put a used engine in as i couldn't do it myself and i haven't seen any nice examples around that are about the same mileage as mine.

BASICALLY, here are my questions:
1) If the current head is skimmed, will this give the engine a better chance of it not failing again?
2) If i got a used head,  will this give the engine a better chance of it not failing again?
3) Is the head gasket/head easy to repair myself?
4) How would i go about removing, repairing and refitting(instructions would be nice)?


Sorry for all the questions and there may be a lot more, but i'm tight on cash at the moment and don't want the car to break again soon.
Thanks in advance!

[mrsaunders]

I'd honestly just get a new engine, I've seen them go on here for £50, it won't be that hard just label everything and take lots of photos

[lemski]

Were u based?

[ImpactUK]

Last time i tried to do am engine swap on my old Zetec-S and I struggled a lot. I had to get a guy from a forum to basically do it for me as I didn't have the correct tools and know how. I don't know if this car is any easier and I can't for the life of me find any information on how to do it myself
I'd feel a lot more comfortable leaving the engine in and just taking a few bolts off than trying to get an engine out of there by myself

Also I'm based in Lytham St. Anne's, just below Blackpool

[leigh_harty]

What car is it?

I done mine buy myself. Stripped, skimmed and de-coked the whole head myself. Timing was easy too, but this is on a vr6!

[ImpactUK]

Its an 8v, so i assumed it would be pretty straight forward. My main worries are with money and hoping it doesn't destroy another head gasket in the future.
I'm up for trying anything, but i need some sort of guide on either how to rip the engine out or how to replace the HG.

[javalin]

Buy a haynes manual - its all covered in there I believe.  That would enable you to size up the job.

Be aware you'll probably need to buy a fair amount of tools, plus I would find a friendly machine shop to skim the head before re-fitting it.

1) If the current head is skimmed, will this give the engine a better chance of it not failing again?
Yes

2) If i got a used head,  will this give the engine a better chance of it not failing again?
I wouldn't say you need it unless the current head is damaged.

3) Is the head gasket/head easy to repair myself?
not impossible, buy a haynes manual.

4) How would i go about removing, repairing and refitting(instructions would be nice)?
as above

Easier to get the garage to do it personally, but a challenge otherwise....

James

[ImpactUK]

Thanks for the great reply!
What sort of tools will i need? My brother has a Mk3 Haynes i think, so i'll take a look in there. I heard that Bentley ones are good but they are bloody expensive.
I'm not certain that the head is fully intact as it has been driven with the analogue temp gauge hitting the maximum, and the digital oil temp was around 120. A used head seems to be about the same price as skimming and straightening so i assumed that it would be better to get one that hasn't been reconditioned.

I have basically all of next week to attempt to repair or replace the engine, but after that i can't really do much.

Anyone in my area willing to help? I'll happily pay for petrol if you're coming from a long distance as long as its not more than £450 

[Len]

The head is skimmed because what happens when it overheats is that the head "warps" and is therefore no longer flat!
The head must be flat to get a watertight seal.
Therefore the head must be skimmed.

[javalin]

>What sort of tools will i need?
apart from a decent socket set, pliers, etc, the only non-standard tool you need that comes to mind is the head-bolt socket end and a Torque wrench.  Oh and oil filter removal tool, as you'll need to drain the coolant and the oil first, and take the (rusty) exhaust manifold of too :-(

See what Haynes use/suggest for the job.

James