jara Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Posted January 10, 2012 idled it for another 10 with constant bubbling after the initial 2-3 minute warm-up. looks like i'm going to have to have a shop look at it. which sucks cause i'm dirt poor Quote
altezzaclub Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 All you want is the opinions from the experts. Once they have decided it has a blown head gasket or a ruined radiator you can do all the work yourself. Quote
jara Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Posted January 10, 2012 If i take it to a radiator shop, will they be able to pinpoint a head gasket? or should i take it to a mechanic? just cause generally specialists are cheaper Quote
altezzaclub Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Take it to both & have a chat. Â Tell them the problem and ask them what they think it is, what they would do and what it would cost. Quote
jara Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Posted January 13, 2012 so it's looking like the head gasket.... so it's going to need to be done professionally.... it's going to be fun spending every dollar i get on it Quote
ke70dave Posted January 13, 2012 Report Posted January 13, 2012 can you swing a spanner? Â nothing all that complicated about changing a headgasket on a K motor. Quote
altezzaclub Posted January 13, 2012 Report Posted January 13, 2012 Make absolutely sure it is the head gasket before starting on it.  Its not a big or difficult job, any home mechanic with a torque wrench can do it. You will have to pay to have the head skimmed flat, about $80.  Look at it as an opportunity to catch up on maintenence and do some mods- How is the condition of the motor overall??  Check every bolt/nut & bolthole for being clean and smooth to the end of the thread Get the head skimmed more to raise the compression ratio. Pull the block out and drop the sump- check bearings and upgrade the oil pump with the washer trick. Tip the motor over and get all the rust out of the block with a wire Buy a set of extractors and fit them Carve out the ports and match the inlet manifold, clean the inlet manifold up inside & polish any sharp curves  You might as well make it faster and better while its apart. Quote
jara Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) I'm way too new to cars to do that myself. They quoted me $875 to fix, but the same guy will do it at his place for 600 (friend of a friend). looks like i'm screwed  If someone lives close by and wouldnt mind helping me save a few hundred, please feel free haha. I'll pay a couple hundred Edited January 13, 2012 by jara Quote
corollaart Posted January 13, 2012 Report Posted January 13, 2012 Location??pretty straight forward job  rob Quote
Evan G Posted January 13, 2012 Report Posted January 13, 2012 $875?? LOL! i would do a cashy for $100. Â but dead set get another motor. $875 isnt worth it. Quote
altezzaclub Posted January 13, 2012 Report Posted January 13, 2012 What's a 4K worth at your local wrecker? Buy a running spare and fit it, then strip yours and learn all about it. Â If you've replaced the water pump & t'stat you're halfway there! $875 is crazy for such a simple job. Quote
jara Posted January 16, 2012 Author Report Posted January 16, 2012 (edited) i didnt do the water pump on myself. but I'm going to have the fella do it for 600, it's through his own business. and will be done properly, like the head will be machined straight. I don't wanna screw anything up by risking doing it myself, at least this way i know for sure that it'll be fixed properly for a long long time. Edited January 16, 2012 by jara Quote
Ady Posted January 16, 2012 Report Posted January 16, 2012 get a gregories manual for the car and a torque wrench and if you follow the steps you should get it all done for $300 easy AND you'll know how to do it next time. Quote
jara Posted January 16, 2012 Author Report Posted January 16, 2012 yeh, I've got a manual, it's helped a real lot with other things. but it comes down to the fact that I'm just too new to this stuff, although i am learning a lot. thanks everyone for the help though Quote
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