Hey all,

The Zed has been behaving for the past six months (just replaced all the tyres and had the wheels refurbed a few months ago) but now I have a sniff test fail :(

 

After giving her some welly a couple of weeks ago, I found a small amount of oil in the expansion bottle, followed by white smoke (steam) coming from both exhausts.

Fearing the worst, I carried out a sniff test today and the indicator showed yellow (combustion gases in the coolant). Car is a 1993 UK spec and just approaching the 100,000 mile mark.

 

Now, I've previously replaced the timing belt, done a plenum pull, bypass and delete with no real problems...…

 

Big question - how difficult is it to do head gaskets on this engine, in situ? Any advice is most welcome.

 

I'm not bad with the spanners, just a bit slow - but there's no hurry, no deadline to meet. Obligatory photo attached ;)

 

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Car is looking good mate - but sorry to hear you may have a BHG....:sad:

 

Not sure how easy it is to do with the engine in situ; but would not have thought you'd need to remove it. I'd still not fancy doing the job though - and would take it to Jimmer myself. Bit of a trek from Scotland to Bristol though!! Good luck with getting it fixed...:clover:

Honestly mate, it’s easier to pull the engine than it is to pull th with the engine in situ

nightmare to do in situ i tried on my first z and regretted it. problem is the turbos and the hard lines get caught on everything when you lift the head up off the block because of the degree of the V to the frame rails. like everyone else says just remove the engine sort the issues assemble it properly and drop the engine back in. if you have access to a ramp its also easier to drop the engine/gearbox and subrame all down at once.

Thanks for the replies guys, based on what's been said - I'll have to get someone to do the job for me, 'cos aged 63 with a bad back....I ain't gonna pull the engine :no:

Please dont just do the head gaskets if you are going to the trouble of removing the engine and stripping it.I refuse this job on a regular basis as it rarely ends well.By the time the gaskets blown usually other damage has been done from the overheat.Glazed bores and thinning of the oil which increases bearing wear.At the very least hone it with new rings,Have the heads refurbished and get some new shell bearings.And use OEM gaskets for peace of mind.

Please dont just do the head gaskets if you are going to the trouble of removing the engine and stripping it.I refuse this job on a regular basis as it rarely ends well.By the time the gaskets blown usually other damage has been done from the overheat.Glazed bores and thinning of the oil which increases bearing wear.At the very least hone it with new rings,Have the heads refurbished and get some new shell bearings.And use OEM gaskets for peace of mind.

 

There you go - the voice of the Zed-guru.... Thanks Jimmer!

nightmare to do in situ i tried on my first z and regretted it. problem is the turbos and the hard lines get caught on everything when you lift the head up off the block because of the degree of the V to the frame rails. like everyone else says just remove the engine sort the issues assemble it properly and drop the engine back in. if you have access to a ramp its also easier to drop the engine/gearbox and subrame all down at once.

 

Apparently I clicked WTF on this post..... must have been a fat thumb moment because I didn’t mean to!

Apparently I clicked WTF on this post..... must have been a fat thumb moment because I didn’t mean to!

 

Click it twice and it will go away as I found out with my fat fingers lol

I had that symptom on another car about 15 years ago. I decided to get a replacement engine thst had already been refreshed. While the mechanic was sourcing an engine he suggested putting a chemical in the coolant and another in the oil. It worked. I did eventually get the engine swapped out, but the old engine eas running really well with that chemical in ot. I later found out that some performance car manufacturers put that stuff in their cars forcthe running in period when new. If you can find something like that and you are putting a different engine in anyway then why not give it a go.