You need to get a head gasket, some valves (obviously) and a rocker cover gasket to be on the safe side. Are you sure you broke the thermostat? Was it round and looked something like a valve? This opens and closes to regulare the water flowing around the engine. You can get new ones from halfords or most motor spares shops and they're not expensive. You'll need a new gasket for that as well, one for the top (the bit that seals the head) and one for the bottom, (the bit that seals to be block).

Whilst you've got the head off check for scoring of the cylinders, and 'blow-back' this is where the hot gasses escape through the gaps that have been scored in the cylinder, if this is occuring there will be dark scorch marks on the side of the cylinders, it should be obvious if its been happening for a while.

And when you put the whole thing back together you'll need a torque wrench to make sure the head bolts are at the correct torque. The head bolts go on in the reverse order in which the came out, so start from the middle and work out.

cheers alex , i have not broken the thermostat , but one of the sensors that go into the top of it.

Matt

Sorry I don't know what you broke! Perhaps you could post a diagram of the engine and point out what it was. If you're near a scrappy, you could go and pull one off another car. I'm sure a fiat dealer will be able to get the part as well.

ok just talked to the engine shop , 300 quid , 8 new exhaust valves , relap some of the inlet ones , some new valve guides , head set + bolts etc...
head skimmed , and thats including labour...

not sure if that sounds good ? they are good friends and are doing it and the best price they can do . ??

they only other thing i forked out for was a cambelt tool kit , comes with a tensioner tool , locking tool for the cams and flywheel

picking up the head tommorow so will see how much i can get done tommorow night ...

Matt

Hmm...Id say pretty much all valves should be relapped as a matter of course or at least checked for full sealage...

Skimming usually in the region of £20-50 dependent on shop and work done (swarf removal)

Valve guides circa £3-4 each for std items (£2.62 from 07/2003's ePER disc)- its just putting them in that hurts, cos it needs a hydraulic press and lots of effort!

Exhaust valves - again circa £10 each I think

Head set - £30 from anywhere

Bolts - dunno, but I think £5 rings a bell, but its always recommended to replace them.

Its the labour and VAT that kills yu!!!

I wouldnt say that seems that bad...its not a nice amount of money to spend, but that head will be schveet.

they have done a vacum test on each valve as well .. and have lapped the ones that needed it.

its still cheaper than 800 plus that fiat have said ... so i am in pocket .. sort of ..or is that less in debt ???

Matt

you should use new head bolts as they are stretch bolts and second hand ones won't torque up properly.

Yeah, sorry I forgot to mention stretch bolts... New head bolts are available from the dealer.

Glad you seem to have sorted it and saved money... after all thats what this forum is all about.

back together now , cheers for all the help guys , its a little noisey on the top end (cam follower's fell out , so got a few back in the wrong positions ) ....

but apart from that it now runs and drives ... cheers

Matt

If i were you I'd sort the noises out, because thats something that would really anoy me... probably aint doing much harm though.

its just a sticky cam follower , will give it a oil change next week so will see if that helps

Matt

Glad you got it fixed anyway... you'll be the person to ask when this happens next..!

well i had to buy a cambelt toolkit for 100 quid !!! , which includes a fly wheel locking tool , cam locking tools , and a tensioner tool ( thats what i needed) so maybe if anyone wants to rent it off me they can

Matt

Glad to hear it's sorted out and I think you're going to be very popular with that cambelt kit

if someone wants to put a notice up saying its for rent somewhere i don't mind , would accept paypal , and people would have to pay a deposit as well .. but they would get that back of course

it did make my life so much easyer ... recon they are not worth 100 quid though

Matt