Help needed - head gasket replacement

[imported_jim whitehead]

Hi Folks,

I am pretty sure my head gasket has gone on my MK2 Punto (2000), I've done lots of smallish jobs on my car over the years, new exhaust, starter motor, new sump etc... but I have never taken an engine apart or taken a timing belt off - has anyone got any straight forward advice - I need the confidence to do the job myself rather than pay a garage hundreds of ££££££.

Regards, :?

Jim
Dundee

 

[imported_Mark]

Re: HELP NEEDED - HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT

Hey Jim,

I have not personally done a head gasket - got my mechanic to do mines when it went - but in all honesty I wouldn't attempt it especially if you have never stripped an engine down before. I have heard numerous stories about garages making a mess of head gaskets without attempting it - From what I saw of my mechanic doing the job it certainly isn't a one or two spanner job from the haynes manual.

Mark

 

[M21MFS]

Re: HELP NEEDED - HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT

Hey Jim,

I have not personally done a head gasket - got my mechanic to do mines when it went - but in all honesty I wouldn't attempt it especially if you have never stripped an engine down before. I have heard numerous stories about garages making a mess of head gaskets without attempting it - From what I saw of my mechanic doing the job it certainly isn't a one or two spanner job from the haynes manual.

Mark

As above, HG replacement isn't more than £200-300 (roughly) and it's money well spent for the peace of mind!

 

[FiatFXR]

Re: HELP NEEDED - HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT

This is a quick basic guide.

You start by stripping the cylinder head of the electrical plugs and air/water hoses, then disconnect the fuel lines. You can leave the inlet manifold on just now but u will need to take off the exhaust manifold from the cylinder head. take off the timing belt cover and loosen the belt tensioner and wipe the belt (don't worry about the timing marks as you can pre setup the timing before the head back on and all you have to do is move the cam pulley a tooth but anyway that later on). You will have to remove the engine mount on the head so u will need a jack and a block of wood under the sump to support the weight (wood will be softer on your sump unlike the jack), Remove rocker cover and loosen of head bolts a 1/2 socket will take them off and your head should be ready to come off.

I advise you take your cylinderhead to get skimmed (it might be warped with the heat it went through) at an metal machinist like AGRA in Dundee (good peeps to work with) or a lil cheaper in Perth at Perth Engineering. Note they may ask you to strip the cylinder head as they need it to fit their milling machines, so i would at least remove the inlet manifold.

When building it back up just do the reverse of taking everything (so it's good to have good memory) but make sure cylinder 1 is top dead center b4 putting head back on and if piston 1 is TDC the crank pulley will be lined up with timing mark.

You need to follow this order when doing the head bolt back up

stage 1 22 lbf ft
stage 2 angle tighten further 90 degrees
stage 3 angle tighten further 90 degrees

tightening order
8,6,2,5,10
7,3,1,4,9


The notch in the camshaft pulley will point to 9 o'clock if looking at the pulley head on and their will be a notch in the head it will be very close to it but when the belt goes on you just get a spanner on the cam pulley nut and move it to make it line up perfect, now pull the belt up from the front and over towards the back and down around the tensioner them use a lever to tension the belt and tighten up the tensioner's bolt

I think i covered most of it and if not just ask and i am sure it will pop back to me, i have done quite a few of these for friends and family and i find them real easy once you have done one

Yours
Rettie, Perth

 

[FiatFXR]

Re: HELP NEEDED - HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT

Oh aye, remember to get new head gasket and preferably new head bolts and you will need to refill your antifreeze/water when engine is rebuilt, 50/50 ratio 7ltrs in total. I find it much easier to remember the stuff went you the car there working on it, comes flooding back.