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Joel

Ok, I've taken the heads off, and found that there is coolant in cylinders 2, 3, and 4. I have two blown head gaskets!
I'm not putting it back together til the heads have been checked for warping. Is there any way I can do it myself? Or do I have to get it done.
What else should I check before it all goes back together?
Any help is appreciated.

john 33_16v · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:

Hi,

If you have a glass coffee table etc to hand, wait for the mrs to go out and place the heads on this- any obvious warping will show up. Alternatively find a machine shop with decent flat metal bench and offer the gaffer a drink to put them on this.

If no obvious signs of warping, may be worth paying for a proper check. Guessing the car got pretty overheated to pop both head gaskets??

John
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Joel · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:29 am Post subject:

Thanks John, thats what i was thinking, glass, might try find some.

The car hasn't been driven for about two and a half years, just started and run for a while but it never got too hot(according to the gague), before I got it it was loosing power, but i dont think it ever overheated though. The car belonged to my brother and his wife for about three years then i bought it from them in Jan. 2005. so i know it was looked after and not abused.
Do the heads usually warp? Or only when it overheats?

stedee · Alfa 33 Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 364 Location: brighouse

good day mate
its common practise to get the heads skimmed when changing gaskets, just to clean them up properly, do the faces pf the heads look clean?
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Joel · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:

the faces of the heads still have a bit of gasket stuck to them, but from what i can see there is no pitting or corrosion.

lee16v · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:12 am Post subject:

If the heads have blown then i thought you had to get them skimmed?
I never got mine skimmed as it was a simple case of taking them off cleaning them up (carefully) and putting it back together as they hadn't blown, just valve problems.

dantheman · Alfa Arna Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 10

u do have to get alloy heads shaved right??
thats wat i was told owell i did it anyway on my series 1 clover

Joel · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject:

If it had overheated and then blown I'd get them skimmed but it never overheated, don't think the temp gague went over 80 so would the heads have warped? Does the engine need to overheat for the heads to warp?

Thanks for your help so far guys I appreciate it

Lebowski · Guest

You need to put a straight edge on the (clean) head face, then, using feeler gauges, see if you have any excessive gaps under the striaght edge. I can't remember what the acceptable gap is though.

stedee · Alfa 33 Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 364 Location: brighouse

get em skimmed anyway it is only about £40 in ol blighty and dont rely on what the temp gauge said especially if you had a blown head gasket, something must have happened to blow both of them, i would say it had overheated.
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Joel · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:08 am Post subject:

Thanks for all your help guys.

I got prices for skimming and presure testing, $205australian, and $95 for a full gasket kit.
I'm dropping the heads off on monday should be done on tuesday, so if everything goes well I'll be putting it all back together mid next week.

Scott Sander · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:

tinworm · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:25 am Post subject:

I wouldn't have thought that pressure testing would be all that necessary but it's up to you, I would have them skimmed though for peace of mind at least. I would expect to pay about 80-100 dollars for a skim on two heads and when you have to set up heads for pressure testing you need to block all the holes before dunking in water with air pressure inside to see if it has cracks anywhere, this is what costs a lot to do.
The price for the full gasket set seems very fair, I could only get a valve regrind set for that much, you must have a better supplier than me at any rate Smile

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Joel · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:21 am Post subject:

I picked up my heads today and they are oh so shiny so putting it all back together over the next few days, then back in the car and hopefuly it'll all still work Confused

Skimming cost $205AUD but that included pressure testing, vacuum test, and hardness test. gasket kit was $95 and cam belts were $70
Now all I need is a new windscreen