Headgasket replacement (some big pictures, so 56K beware)

[Craig]

I figured I'd start a new thread for this. Got just about everything off the engine now, the only thing left to do is set the engine to TDC and pull the cam chain sprocket. I'm going to rent a lift Saturday and the head should come off then.

For now, here are a couple pics.

From this-



To this-

[Martin in Bellevue]

So the Craig not in Seattle also has a calypsorot 535? Great color, that is.

Try not to bounce the head off the plastic chain rails & the 2 back head bolts may need to be in the head before repositioning the head onto the block.

The m30 head gaskets seem to be failing these days.

[Craig]

No, this is Craig in Seattle.

You busy this weekend?

I'm renting a hoist so hopefully it will be a little easier to control the head when installing it and I won't have to bounce the head off the guide.

[Martin in Bellevue]

I can't imagine a hoist being needed for the head, unless you plan to leave the intake & exhaust manifolds attached. If they are left on the head, I'd expect alignment to be visually challenged. And, it might be tough to get a hoist in there to lift the head, without pulling the front wheels off, or pulling the bonnet.

Sucks, you just got that thing & need to do a headgasket.

My garage is available, & so am I.

[Craig]

I'll let you know. I plan to leave the intake and exhaust on the head, it looks pretty difficult to remove all that in-situ. The bottom bolts on the intake in particular look to be a problem.

[Mr Project]

Yep, those bottom intake bolts are a pain, though doable on the E28 I just helped with. Manifold doesn't weigh that much, though, so it shouldn't be a huge issue to pull it with ....

I would think it would make installation a pain, though!

[Craig]

Got the head off this morning and dropped it off at the machine shop. They are going to put new valve seals, guides (if necessary), true the head (as little as possible since a turbo will be going on and I don't want too much compression) and clean it up.

Once the head came off, I found this little guy in one of the oil passages. Not sure what it came from, but it didn't seem to be doing much damage.


Didn't drain the block, on retrospect I probably should have. The result was this nasty mess.


Here's Martin's favorite part. Hopefully I won't smash it putting the head back on.

[Jeff N.]

Craig - if you really want a lift, you can borrow mine. I have a large engine hoist.

PS - that rubber thingy looks like a oil filter seal o-ring.

[Craig]

I thought oil filter too, but at this point it's done its damage so I'm just glad it is out now.

[winfred]

make sure you get the liquid out of the head bolt holes before you reinstall, the hydrallic pressure can crack the block