HG Job

[Miami240z]

I cant find any DIY articles for an SR HG job. My coolant is milky and water leaks down my block but I would rather do it myself than pay for labor. Yes I am mechanically inclined with numerous swaps under my belt so I just need something to guide me through it with a bit more detail. I have S13(with KA) and S14 FSMs but I dont want to take any chances with the differences between the motors regardless of how small. If anyone knows where I can find some helpful information on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.TIA

[Gumballf355]

Thats not something you should really do yourself unless you have a torque wrench and access to a machine shop.

[Miami240z]

Its really going to come down to how much it will cost to have it done for me. I have $550 to spend on the car right now and have a maximum 2 day grace period where I can get off work. Ill still need a new valve cover and gasket since my cover is cracking up the front from the center.

[babowc]

valvecover gasket is the least of your worries.
those are sub 50 bux.

if you're on that budget, you probably could possibly take it to a shop to have done.
keep in mind though, it'll more than likely involve machining the head to get a good flat surface.

labor.. lets say 75/hr.
and parts, 100.
and.. decking the head, 50?

150, + 5hrs of work @ 75bux = 525.

[Phlip]

valvecover gasket is the least of your worries.
those are sub 50 bux.

if you're on that budget, you probably could possibly take it to a shop to have done.
keep in mind though, it'll more than likely involve machining the head to get a good flat surface.

labor.. lets say 75/hr.
and parts, 100.
and.. decking the head, 50?

150, + 5hrs of work @ 75bux = 525.
Most shops charge more than that for a HG, since they charge YOU for the machine work that should be done, then that shop flat-rate is nothing short of buttrape... Keep in mind that when one is doing a HG, it is quite simply too good an idea to go ahead and replace timing gear as well.
If he is REALLY as mechanically inclined as he claims to be, has FSM available for all engines he has parts from, perhaps he SHOULD undertake it himself, but only if he has time and facilities. He can do it himself for 550, including all needed, but ONLY if it can be done right the first time. Do it wrong and you'll be paying that to do it yourself, then paying a towyard to take it to a shop, then paying that shop to do it right.

[babowc]

yeah.. that was just a real rough estimate.
you will be hardpressed to find somewhere that'll do all of that including labor under 550.

if you do it in house, you could probably get away with doing all that + timing parts for 550.
machining the head wont run more than 50 or 75.
timing components = 350.
headgasket = 75
misc. stuff = 50

[Miami240z]

This HG repair is turning out to be as bad as I thought money wise. Worst part is that this is just one of many repairs Im going to have to do in the near future. I would sell the car and get a bike but I cant bring my self to let the car go.

[Jefferson]

Its not THAT hard to do. You don't even have to do timing components just inspect them and make sure they are not worn to the point that it looks like it will fail in a few months.
The biggest factor I say would be the machine work. On mine i resurfaced the head and decked the block before I put my metal HG on and while everything was out I changed the studs with ARP and replaced most of the gaskets, didn't even replace anything timing related because it all looked in great condition.
Oh and daily riding a bike in florida is not fun at all I did for the past 3 years and it sucks especially with Florida's predictable summer rain

[gotta240]

do it yourself and pay a shop a few bucks to resurface the head...Its not that expensive to have resurfaced...If its warped, they should tell you(ask them to check)