How can I replace head gasket myself?

[leigh_harty]

My car smoked so I just assumed it was the stem seals, what I did was buy another head then learn off that - this way meant I could still use my car upto the weekend I'd swap things over. So I had time to play/learn.

Also have the benefit of mates in the trade (one at awesome gti) to borrow valve compressor off etc.

To be fair it was quite easy but I was in the same boat as you (no mk3 pun  ), I'm quite handy with ancillaries etc but taking engine apart was new territory.

After it was all built up again it still smoked and I took it all back apart (another new gasket an bolts) and took my pistons out and changed the rings and bottom end bearings etc. which again seemed haunting but was infact ok - would Of been easier if I hadn't balls'd up on something but you live and learn eh

[Bandit127]

Pop your bonnet and have a look - a good look - around the engine bay. The head is basically the top half of the engine, down to about the level of the casting that the oil filter screws in to.

Start to work out how you will take all those pipes and connectors off in a way that you will know how they all go back together right.

Look down the back of the engine. Somehow you have to take the inlet and exhaust manifolds off that you can hardly see, let alone get tools on.

Then go indoors, have a beer (or whatever) and have a good think about whether you are up for it.

It is not impossible or intellectually challenging. You just need to be steady and methodical and be ready with a plan if you snap a rusty bolt or stud. And have the tools to cope with that.

But you really need to be up for it so that you can overcome the inevitable problems (like rusty, snapped bolts) that you will be faced with.

If you are up for it (and I hope you are) the Haynes manual is a good start.

Having studied the flatness of aluminium castings I would go for the local machine shop every time. A milled surface is a whole lot flatter than one sanded with the help of flat plates. (For some reason the sanding works more around the edges - so the middle is good and flat but the outsides get a radius from the sanding process).

As far as making sure it never goes again:
1. Buy a genuine VAG head gasket.
2. Get your head machined flat.
3. Follow the torque procedure for the head bolts in the manual to the letter.
4. Use the correct coolant. Incorrect coolant can cause HG failure.
5. Keep your whole coolant system in tip top shape. Do not tolerate any sign of overheating or running cool. Both stress the head gasket in different ways.

I have done a few heads and I wouldn't want to start with my 8v one. Mainly because access is so bleedin tight.

Luckily I am old enough to have started with old Fords that you could almost stand in the engine bay to work around.

[leigh_harty]

Sometimes little tips help when you dont have the proper tool

I had a head bolt snap into the block when i did mine, not even a man sized pair of mole grips made an effort to budge it! So i got a socket just too small and smashed it on, came out a treat.

Id say give it a go mate, you can always come on here for any help thats (hopefully) not needed 

[Gash]

my issue after head gasket change was the place that did my skimming put the valve stem oil seals in wrong and now its smoking loads and burning oil.... im now 20v turboing it!

you seem like you wouldnt be able to do it, could either pay someone off here to help or see if any mates can if you want it done cheaper

[ImpactUK]

Thanks for all your advice everyone.
I'm gonna go speak to the garage on Monday and talk about my options. I already know that its £450 all in for a headgasket change, so i'm gonna ask how much it would be if i supplied the parts, or how much it would be for them to fit a used engine for me.
Push comes to shove, i will attempt it myself and if i bugger up i'll be coming on here waving my arms about

I don't really know any mechanically minded people and pretty much all of my friends don't care about cars because they can't drive yet haha. I'd love for someone on this forum to come and do it for me, but the majority seem to live down south.

Anyway, thanks again and any more advice is appreciated as i'd like to get as many opinions as possible

[leigh_harty]

so i'm gonna ask how much it would be if i supplied the parts

Garages get trade price so cheaper than it would be to for you to buy

My advise would be to sit down with some coffee (or a monster) and learn how to time your engine up - for me that would be the most difficult

Also if you go spending £450 is the car worth that + the initial price tag?

What ive spent on my engine is money i wont get close to seeing again    but ive a healthy vr to rip around everywhere 

[ImpactUK]

Even if it is cheaper for them to get parts, if i supply them then i know that i won't get crap put in my car. But to be honest, letting them do an engine swap for me seems a lot cheaper right about now. Just have to wait until monday where i can get a printed quote. Wish i could get a round about sum now, as its hell not being able to drive it!

Think it'll have to be beer other than monster and coffee haha. That was a concern of mine, but i looked up how to do a cambelt and know where some of the timing marks are and what to do(ish). I've gotta say, i still don't feel extremely comfortable and if i let them engine swap i can keep the old one and fiddle about with that!

Did a straight swap for a Ford Focus that was getting tired. Such a boring grandad car...

Wish i could afford the VR6 insurance and running costs, i'd snap one up in a second

[leigh_harty]

Buying a decent engine + a garages labour? Easily adds up

Id say swapping an engine would be alot easier it just needs a hoist and some help.

Atleast if you had the HG done then you would know its been done

[Gavv8]

I'm sorry to say that i little or no faith in garages so i would rather do the job myself and take my time and know its been done properly than hand it over to a 'fitter' who will probably end up using online instructions to do the job themselves.
The 8v is not a complicated engine to work on and providing you make sure you have all the tools and parts you need then you shouldn't have any problems although bear in mind it's been in the car a long time and most bolts and fixings will be 'well bedded in', personally i would take the head to a machine shop to have it skimmed as it will be spot on then and i would replace the everything that can be replaced as it'll be one less thing to worry about.
The most important thing is to make sure everything is spotlessly clean on re-assembly as even a small piece of debris in the bores of the engine can cause huge problems and allow plenty of time to do the job so your not under pressure to have it back on the road.

[leigh_harty]

my issue after head gasket change was the place that did my skimming put the valve stem oil seals in wrong and now its smoking loads and burning oil....

Was that the eventual problem?! Hope you went back and got some sort of a refund!