Blown Head Gasket ( any helpful hints bfor i strt)

[mr0072003]

HI all,
        Well I just got news that my head gasket is blown...so I will begin reapairs tomorrow in hops to make it to convention this saturday in Cali.  In any case I was wondering for all those guys how have headed down this path before, if u have any helpful suggestions or comments about this type of job on my 95 S14 SE.  I will start tomorrow but will check forum for anyones helpful hints or ANY comments.  thanks again all

and wish me luck cuz &nbsp;ill need it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

[240meowth]

head gasket is ALOT of work... i don't know if they can finish in a few days... sorry to hear bro. &nbsp;where are you located? &nbsp;since u said head down to the convention on saterday, i assume u around carson? &nbsp;anyways, back to the topic, often times, people go w/ sr20 instead of replacing the head gasket, just not worth the time...

[mr0072003]

Dam your up late Meowth..but your in Rolein Hieghts right...626...so so am i <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> ...We were going to play some inital D at the infinity arcad out there but I flaked.....any wayz &nbsp; Yea &nbsp; well my Dad says we can do it in about a five hours, but thats why i have this post out here to get some feed back like this.. really We dont have the money or time to get knew engine installed,,,,although it would be nice...so any more comments keepn them comming.....

[DuffMan]

There's also the posibillity the head could be warped.

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

[mr0072003]

Well that &nbsp;not a good thing....Is there any real wya of checking other than looking at and telling?.....I checked for the price from Dealer they want about 45...does that sem right....pretty cheap comming from the dealer.

[diabolic hippo]

Make sure you have all of your replacement parts first, head gasket, valve cover gasket, exhaust/intake manifold gasket, replace your head bolts, make sure you have all of the washers for the head bolts.
check your heads first before you just replace the gasket, take it to a machine shop, if it's warp maybe they can shave it, if not good luck finding another head, i know marketplayer was selling a head of a 91-up s13 if you needed one.
a chilton or haynes mannual would also be handy to.
maybe you could do it in 5hrs, if you have all your parts prepped all ready, you know how a 1hr job turns into a 3 hr job cause you have to go the parts store.

[mr0072003]

Hippo..thanks..I do have the Chilton manual but not all the parts ready..we still have to get it. &nbsp; I will not be replacing the head just the gasket...is that a bad thing...i hust wnat it back running......awwwwwwwww.help me...i yea

Headers off
valva cover off
manifold bolts off...

im still checking guys so keep im comming <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

[nissan_s14]

Look on ebay for a gasket set...I got mine off there it came with everything: headgasket, valve cover gasket, intake gasket, etc. etc....all for $25

[mr0072003]

What 25 bucks...holy smokes...Actually i did think if e-bay but i needed to get everything by tomorrow 7/26..then install that whole day..and pray everything is ready for Saturday morning so i can drive to Carson for the convention....And to add to my progress report..everything is out...and Hippo I will be replaceing the head... My Dad agrreed with you and said it would be safer to go that way, while we have everything out.. &nbsp;Here is a question to the mechinics of the forum....will it be safe to drive for a long distance (1hr 15min) right after my engine is runnning again...or is that not a safe thing to do and keep it cool for the first few hundred miles. &nbsp;Let me know

[240meowth]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (mr0072003 @ July 25 2002,01:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dam your up late Meowth..but your in Rolein Hieghts right...626...so so am i <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> ...We were going to play some inital D at the infinity arcad out there but I flaked.....any wayz Yea well my Dad says we can do it in about a five hours, but thats why i have this post out here to get some feed back like this.. really We dont have the money or time to get knew engine installed,,,,although it would be nice...so any more comments keepn them comming.....</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i'm in torrance... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'>

[mr0072003]

the smile makes that comment so much more funny...and BTY when you going to invite me back out there to play Initial D..and BTY I have never played or even seen the anime...But I have read all the BIOS...know most of the cars....and HAve the slieighty model by Double U, But thats it.

[diabolic hippo]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (mr0072003 @ July 25 2002,10:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What 25 bucks...holy smokes...Actually i did think if e-bay but i needed to get everything by tomorrow 7/26..then install that whole day..and pray everything is ready for Saturday morning so i can drive to Carson for the convention....And to add to my progress report..everything is out...and Hippo I will be replaceing the head... My Dad agrreed with you and said it would be safer to go that way, while we have everything out.. Here is a question to the mechinics of the forum....will it be safe to drive for a long distance (1hr 15min) right after my engine is runnning again...or is that not a safe thing to do and keep it cool for the first few hundred miles. Let me know</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
so now your replacing the heads huh, new or used, a new head here in Hawaii is $1400 for a bare head from the dealer. if your buying a used head be sure to have it checked by a machine shop, don't take the sellers "word for it" cause if it is warped you have to go through the process all over again. maybe you should just have your old head checked first to save you some money, nothing wrong with shaving a little off the heads.
i am in the process of doing my heads myself as we speak , it will be my 2nd head job in 4 months, right after my first head job my negligent mistake costed me a warped head, i forgot to reinstall my heater hose, so all the coolant leaked out and the rest is history. save if you have a spare head, build it on your spare time or money, i installed ferrera titanium spring and retainers, noticed no gains though, i would like to port and polish my heads if i had a spare head, though the shops here in hawaii take forever to do it. i dunno what gains to expect though i like to say i have a port and polished heads..hahaha.

[mr0072003]

Hippo...thanks for your suggestions,,CUZ I actually had toi use them...Me and Paps went to exchange my old head for new shaved one, but to my delight it was gone and not avail for a week...That is a NO NO for I MUST make it to the convention tomorrow...So I did what you said and I kept the old one and had it resurfaced for 25$. t already have the INtake manifold IN, and the header in. The only thing left is to install CAM and timiing chain stuff ( any help ful hints on that part, any NO NO's). After that I guess im ready after the valve cover and New oil and filter are in. The problem I am having right now the dam Fuel line gthat attaches in between the INtak manifold and the block, the bottom one. IN any case I did not attach the line to the Fuel injestion rail befor i bolted evrything on and now I can get to it to out it in fully and securly...It's kind in now but i dont feel safe and the metal thing to tighten down the hose....Well Im back to the engine.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

[mr0072003]

Well it;s 3 in morning and Im done..took about 2.5 day and most importantly my car is running for the Convention tommorow...Hippo,,meaowth and all thanks for the help and sugesstions..... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzzz:'>