headgasket issues

[Maxboost]

grrrrr, it seems that I am going to be in the midst of two more tear downs, at least from the head up to install new headgaskets. One of which is on my ka24e, and the second of which is on a ca18det. I noticed that I was having some cooling issues today while I was out on a backroad jaunt. I just bought another 89 coupe, and up until today I had no problems with it. I was out today, and not five minutes into my drive, the temp needle started heading north. I managed to make it down the road before it had a chance to overheat, but my rad and overflow tank were gurgling. I let the car cool down for a few hours and then decided to drive home. I got in my car, and started it only to find that it was now idling really really hard, as if my head gasket is blown, and the temp needle was at operating temp within a minute of driving it, and once again almost pegged out at the H mark before I made it home (which was only a few miles aways.) I also noticed a lack of power as well. Damn, I just finished redoing another ka24e engine. There isn't any white smoke coming from the tailpipe, and there isn't any coolant in my oil.,( I changed it this evening.) when I compression tested my engine this evening, cylinder 2, and 3 read lower then cylinder 1 and 4 which was within specs according to the fsm. Are the oem head gaskets prone to failure in the ka24e engines? I know I had to redo the gasket in the ca, but that because the head lifted, no big deal. By the way, doesn't Cometic make a ss head gasket/ ARP head bolts? I would prefer do it right, with the right parts the first time, so I don't have to sweat it later on down the road. Thanks to everyone in advanced. This gasket failure thing is getting old quick, and it kills the fun even quicker

[s13gonwild]

replace your thermostat/dump it out...if that doesnt help...try repalcing the radiator...troubleshoot the small cheap stuff before you pop the head off and replace the head gasket.

[Maxboost]

Yeah, I already did all off the cheap stuff.
new radiator, even though the old one pressure tested fine, swapped in new clutch fan, another water pump, new belts, new coolant neck, thermostat, new gaskets for all of the above, new hoses (even though the old ones were only a few months old. I compression tested my cylinder head, and like I said cylinders 2, and 3 had a severe loss in pressure, and no the pistons and rings are still intact/ with no damage. I flushed my coolant system twice already in the past two weeks. It still idles terribly, still overheats. I am certain it's got the be the head gasket. Its not really a big deal taking everything off, and getting the parts, because it gives me the peace of mind knowing that it will be done. When i have the head off, I will check the clearances on everything. My other 240 behaved the same way right before the head gasket went out on it, so this is really no big surpise. Thanks again though for all of your input, and time. God bless.

[Maxboost]

besides, it will give me a good excuse to work on my car, and put better parts in. I just need help locating a cometic head gasket. I can find them for the DE all day, but if anyone has a place that they know of that sells them for the single cam, please let me know. 240's a wonderful pieces of machinery, that I would gladly wrench on any time. The bracket that sits underneath the intake manifold. Is that really necessary? I am just going to upgrade the higher strength bolts from the intake mani to the head anyway, so it shouldn't be. I wonder if it servers any other function besides taking up space, and adding dead weight to my car.