Water Jacket seals leaking - Engine out?

[Tabwela]

Dear All,

We've got a 1984 T25 with 1.9 watercooled engine and four speed 'box. Not had it long, not had to do any real mechanical delving so far. It's leaking coolant... I posted yesterday having found a foreign object inside a problem hose. We were pinning responsibility for the leak on that hose until this morning, but after cleaning that hose up and refitting with new clips, we lost a top-up reservoir's worth of coolant to the ground.

I took a closer look, and there's water escaping both sides of the engine from the thick rubber seals between the cylinder head and the main block. I believe these are the water jacket seals around the cylinder housing?

The burning question is: Do we have to drop the engine out to get these off, clean up and change the thick rubber seals, or can I get them off and back on again without doing that? My main problem is a lack of a good place to work, and the lack of an engine hoist etc. Will be best for me if I can get them off in situ.

Looking forward to hearing back.

Thanks, Will.

[itchyfeet]

Engine out is far easier because it takes longer to work on it in situ and you find it hard to do it properly.
The heads have to come off and that disturbs the barells so barells and pistons off too to replace lower barrel seals.

Sorry no easy fix.

If you snap a had or exhaust stud then there is more work.

[kevtherev]

If you have no where to work on the engine then the least you can do is drop the engine.
It will save you a small fortune in garage bills.
you can then use the saving to either pallet the engine up and send it to a garage that will change the seals, or take it to a place near you that will do it.
Good luck with it.

other alternative is to buy a used replacement, they do come up quite often.
then you can fix your engine at your leisure, or sell it as a leaker, either way you get some money back

and another alternative is to fit an engine out of a car, the Golf Gti 1.8i route is a well trodden path.

[Tabwela]

Thanks very much for these responses. We've decided we will need to get this done for us as unfortunately we can't realistically find the time, and while we're spending the money we think we might as well get the engine fully reconditioned. I've posted separately for advice on where we might get this done locally...

Thanks again. Hannah & Will

[itchyfeet]

Recon engines are a minefield, plenty of posts about it on here.
You are unlikely to find a local garage to do the recon, but you will find one who can fit a recon done by somebody else.

[kevtherev]

... and while we're spending the money we think we might as well get the engine fully reconditioned.

BIG dolla.
Silverbullet might be able to help.

[Tabwela]

I suspected as much. We will travel if we need to. Don't suppose you know anything about this place?: http://www.suffolkcampervanhire.co.uk/maintenance.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[itchyfeet]

rebuild not a recon but maybe thats all you need.

[kevtherev]

rebuild not a recon but maybe thats all you need.

indeed.
* fingers crossed *

[Tabwela]

Thank you - I'm just confused in my terminology, and wasn't sure if they were one and the same thing. We do only need a rebuild unless there's something major we're missing. Pissing coolant aside, he runs beautifully.

[itchyfeet]

Remanufactured is back to factory spec.
Reconditioned is checked for worn parts and thosed deemed OK reused ( here is where the definition of OK varies)
Rebuilt is probably no new parts other than seals ( you get a new 20 quid oil pump) unless you pay for them.

You can buy a second hand engine for Less than 850 quid ( and thats the from price, it won't stop there)

[Tabwela]

Thanks. Trouble with a second hand engine is we feel that - as with a recon - we wouldn't be sure what we were getting. Also we might end up having to pay someone to fit it as time is so scarce. This place in Suffolk will replace all gaskets and oil seals, replace oil pump and remove, clean and re-grind valves. Good value? We're too new in this game to know really...

[itchyfeet]

you are paying for labour, just to strip and rebuild takes many hours work, gasket set is 100 quid so say 150 quid of parts with pump, at 50 quid an hour thats 14 hours work, probably not unreasonable (I could not do it quicker)
Question is are they any good at it?
Ask about VAT and removal/fitting is that included?
Ask if they open the crankcase and inspect?

[Tabwela]

Thank you, good advice. We will grill them suitably tomorrow.