Hi all, my swb tt has suspected head gasket failure - pressurising coolant blowing out of cap/ blown a pipe off back of engine. I tried an HG test with the blue fluid which showed negative, so probably just a small blow at the moment.

 

Anyway, my local mechanic will do it but he wants the car for 2 months, doing it between other jobs - he's not that keen lol, and we assume it can be done without removing the engine?

 

I'm in Burnham, Somerset, would anyone else like to quote a price to do the job, or recommend someone who'll give me a quote? Also would do cam belt at the same time, and an oil leak from left side - poss pressure sender.

 

My other option is to advertise the car on ebay as it is, but it's probably worth very little in this state?

 

TIA

Hi all, my swb tt has suspected head gasket failure - pressurising coolant blowing out of cap/ blown a pipe off back of engine. I tried an HG test with the blue fluid which showed negative, so probably just a small blow at the moment.

 

Anyway, my local mechanic will do it but he wants the car for 2 months, doing it between other jobs - he's not that keen lol, and we assume it can be done without removing the engine?

 

I'm in Burnham, Somerset, would anyone else like to quote a price to do the job, or recommend someone who'll give me a quote? Also would do cam belt at the same time, and an oil leak from left side - poss pressure sender.

 

My other option is to advertise the car on ebay as it is, but it's probably worth very little in this state?

 

TIA

 

Id get the car up to tamworth to Jeff at Zedworld chap you wont get a better service. The guys could build these cars blind folded.

 

Craig

Id get the car up to tamworth to Jeff at Zedworld chap you wont get a better service. The guys could build these cars blind folded.

 

Craig

 

i agree tbh, two months in between other jobs? I've seen way to many horror stories recently, just take it to Zed world or D2 if that's closer.

yeah, deffo too many horror stories, if you can do the journey to zedworld, then do, there's no one better, hope you get it sorted... but let us know if your selling it :D

d2 are probably closer mate, get it there and darren will do the HG to the highest of standards and you can be assured great service.

Hi all, my swb tt has suspected head gasket failure - pressurising coolant blowing out of cap/ blown a pipe off back of engine. I tried an HG test with the blue fluid which showed negative, so probably just a small blow at the moment.

 

Anyway, my local mechanic will do it but he wants the car for 2 months, doing it between other jobs - he's not that keen lol, and we assume it can be done without removing the engine?

 

I'm in Burnham, Somerset, would anyone else like to quote a price to do the job, or recommend someone who'll give me a quote? Also would do cam belt at the same time, and an oil leak from left side - poss pressure sender.

 

My other option is to advertise the car on ebay as it is, but it's probably worth very little in this state?

 

TIA

 

 

These two things here would make my alarm bells ring. yes its not the best of jobs and there really is a lot involved in getting to the head gasket on these cars (well more time consuming and fiddly).

 

Problem with when someone does it and they "aren't really keen" is that the quality of work might suffer with out them doing it on purpose as there heart isn't really in it to begin with.

I'm in the same boat with early stages of head gasket failure :(

 

I had an engine change priced from Z world for my n/a and may fell go for that as it was a good price, but i don’t think they do head gasket changes, ..mind you i do still use the car around my local area just cant do long journeys as it overheats so saving the penny's at the min.

 

Chris

Edited March 10, 201015 yr by ck300z

Jimmer is on your doorstep!

....oh, and it's engine out for the HG.

All these names lol, who and where's d2 and Jimmer?

 

I'll look in the traders section presumably they're in there?

d2 are in strood in kent :thumbup:

Jimmer in Bristol is your Man for the Job. By far the most highly recommended Engine rebuilder for the Z and right on your doorstep.

 

Zedworld are more your basic service and engine swaps garage. You would have to check if they will do Headgasket jobs as Im not sure.

 

D2 seem to get good reviews from those that have used them.

 

The forum does'nt have garage traders anymore, other than Zedworld who are here as a Used parts trader.

Edited March 10, 201015 yr by Yowser

d2 are in strood in kent :thumbup:

 

Which is a 4hour drive away! How can you say that's closer than Jeff? :rofl:

All these names lol, who and where's d2 and Jimmer?

 

I'll look in the traders section presumably they're in there?

 

This forum has no garage services in the traders section. That's all word of mouth. Jimmer or Zedworld are two forum members. Zedworld does have a traders section for spares. Good reputation.

 

Jimmer has done many many engine rebuilds (both stock and spec'd rebuilds) with not a single unhappy customer.

This forum has no garage services in the traders section. That's all word of mouth. Jimmer or Zedworld are two forum members. Zedworld does have a traders section for spares. Good reputation.

 

Jimmer has done many many engine rebuilds (both stock and spec'd rebuilds) with not a single unhappy customer.

 

Jimmer has a sexy zed too.

 

Jeff im not too sure about as he has that many Zeds there, its hard to even tell if he owns one.

 

And dont ask me about D2's Zed as ive never been there, but heard very good things about the place.

Cheers guys, anyone have any idea what sort of price to expect? I suppose it would make sense to replace tubs at the same time as they've smoked for at least 5 years, but still nothing wrong them other than the smoke.

think your looking at over a grand mate.

If it's both banks then yeah i'd say over a grand might be better going for a recon engine as i'm planning with less mls

 

Chris

i disagree. ive seen it done many times with the engine in.

 

YOU personally have been present many times a head gasket has been done on a Zed???? where???

smithy

Edited March 10, 201015 yr by Smithy

I've assisted with an engine-in Headgasket replacement, done as an experiment to see how it compares - its not worth the extra hassle !

ive done it myself with the engine in and i have seen it done by another mechanic at my work. but i know a few people on ere dont think much to me and my work. im only saying it CAN be done with the engine in

 

Did either of those engines survive......? You don't have the best track record. If you want to do the job properly and to a good standard, it's best doing with the engine out. Less chance of muck ups.

ive done it myself with the engine in and i have seen it done by another mechanic at my work. but i know a few people on ere dont think much to me and my work. im only saying it CAN be done with the engine in

 

Right so thats a wee bit different to your 1st quote eh!

No dispute it can be done, but has to be the biggest pita job to do on a zed and a back breaker, certainly time wise and the ability to do it 100% bob on is an engine out job.

smithy

....also, if the heads are coming off, so much has to be removed that's it's advisable to to a full rebuild with new end shells and a piston inspection. Not worth doing ALL of that work to find out the block has worn pistons.

 

If you're gonna do the job, do it properly!

For vodkashots

 

Do I have a zed? ........................... :yes:

 

How you getting on with your zed after all that work you did..ok?

 

Jeff

 

 

 

My zed

http://www.zedworld.co.uk/wizzq.html

To answer TrevZ and others it maybe be best to explain what is been asked in more detail, the cause and the damage that has been caused when head need removing.

 

Ok so when asked about "head gasket" replacement the first question is quite how hot did it get this is essential to knowing how to proceed.

 

Coil packs are a good indicators of these as they often end up jammed or melted into place, cables and rubber pipes on the sides of the engine etc. will often become crytallised by the exessive heat.

 

So we all know the heads are alloy and the block made from cast steel, this in itself is part of the problem, the two metals absorb and loose heat at different rates.

 

This difference comes into play when the block and heads get extreamly hot the expansion rates are not matched and with steel bolts holding the heads down the heads will warp, this warping is why the headgaskets are longer able to seal and then headgasket failure is diagnosed..but of course its the heads which have warped in reality not the headgaskets failed.

 

So moving on, to get to the point where the head (s) warp the pistons and rings have also been subject to extream temperature, and don`t forget the oil that`s lubricating all of the engine bearings and cylinder surfaces has been subject to temperatures beyond the comfortable design, and again don`t forget the turbo`s which can suffer thermal shock along with the block itself of course.

 

So clearly just removing the heads dropping some new gaskets, skimming the heads and bolting it all back together is at best a risk at worse a waste of time.

 

Having worked on many zeds that have previously overheated and required the aforementioned work they often are troublesome engines and very common as they end up been low compression due to ring /piston lands damage not sorted when the heads were off.

 

So again how far to go, well its an engine out for the very reason its less back breaking and so much more can be checked including dropping the pistons out, if these are not checked you very likely wasing any effort doing the heads, of course the heads may have been done before so skimming is a no no then.

 

Now from a purely business point of view, doing anything other than a full and complete job is a must for warranty and customer satisfaction. For this reason in our view its a full inspection or nothing.

 

This is where a known good used engine will often make more sense, one that has good compression and not been subject to the exessive temperature, with the added bonus of been able to do a 60k service, egr removal and plenum bypass before fitting its by far the best bet.

 

Ok hope that`s explained how and why these kind of jobs are not complety clear and how easy it can be to waste time and money on a dead engine, inspection is the key.

 

 

Jeff TT

Edited March 10, 201015 yr by JeffTT

Zedworld are more your basic service and engine swaps garage. You would have to check if they will do Headgasket jobs as Im not sure.

 

Headgasket question answered above, and "basic" is a little harsh matey.:sad:

 

Jeff TT