16v head gasket changing

[Matteh]

hi,

was looking to change a head gasket on a valver. it hasnt gone, but is on its way out.

I was thinking you could just take the head off and replace the gasket/seals/cam belt/head bolts and put the head back on. maybe even skim the head.

But looking through the haynes manual, it says you have to start messing about with valves and stuff. is this true? how do-able is a head gasket change in circumstances like this?

 

[Dan@SJM]

cambelt is the hard thing to do.

 

[Matteh]

ok, i was looking at this as it was quite cheap at the time.

but for now, think i'll give it a miss

 

[Lunner]

WTF!?!?

Cambelt couldn't be easier lol, old belt off, new belt on, line up the timing marks and tension

You can change it in the car, but tbh for all the hassle that it is messing about with the cambelt i'd have the engine out, head off, swap the gasket and do cambelt, tensioners, and water pump at the same time.

Dont' worry about valver or TDC, just make sure that when you put the head on the pistons are all half way down their bores and then spin the cma pullies to time it all in.

Timing couldn't be easier, you have marks on the pulliesa and marks on teh belt, all you do is line them all up

 

[Matteh]

so how much would i be looking at to change the gasket?

£20 for the new one + seals.
£20 new outlet manifold gasket
£??? for a new belt = tensioners etc...
£??? for a new water pump

oh, and i cant really do an engine out job, havnt got the space unless someone wants to lend me some for a day!

 

[Dan@SJM]

I was reffering to space! of course the timing belt is easy! headgasket is easy in terms of space!

WTF!?!?

Cambelt couldn't be easier lol, old belt off, new belt on, line up the timing marks and tension

You can change it in the car, but tbh for all the hassle that it is messing about with the cambelt i'd have the engine out, head off, swap the gasket and do cambelt, tensioners, and water pump at the same time.

Dont' worry about valver or TDC, just make sure that when you put the head on the pistons are all half way down their bores and then spin the cma pullies to time it all in.

Timing couldn't be easier, you have marks on the pulliesa and marks on teh belt, all you do is line them all up

 

[Lunner]

If you are leaving engine in you are gonna make life ALOT harder for yourself, do it on your drive, pick a dry week

If you are leaving the engine in i would only change the belt, shoudl really change tensioners, but they are gonna be a c**t with engine in, and water pump, you may as well wait till it starts leaking if you are leaving the engine in.

A cambelt kit with tensioners is £60 from GSF for a gnuine renault item
Head gasket is around £30 iirc
Will also need new headbolts at around £30-£50 from GSF

 

[Lunner]

I was reffering to space! of course the timing belt is easy! headgasket is easy in terms of space!

Appologies then

 

[Dan@SJM]

no worries mate i didnt make it clear!

 

[Dan@SJM]

I have headbolts £15+vat.

If you are leaving engine in you are gonna make life ALOT harder for yourself, do it on your drive, pick a dry week

If you are leaving the engine in i would only change the belt, shoudl really change tensioners, but they are gonna be a c**t with engine in, and water pump, you may as well wait till it starts leaking if you are leaving the engine in.

A cambelt kit with tensioners is £60 from GSF for a gnuine renault item
Head gasket is around £30 iirc
Will also need new headbolts at around £30-£50 from GSF