Head Gasket

Post by **kefty** » 30 May 2007, 12:08

I have just had the bus taken to garage with a blown head gasket on left side (top). Once started and warmed up there is hissing and steam from top left of engine. My garage dude (reliable for me up till now) has said could be up to £700 to be fixed, but the other side of engine will probably need doing too. Also there is a possibility that the head may need to be skimmed. Can you just have one head skimmed?

Also are there any dudes out there who have experience with the economics of having it fixed at the garage cost, or potentially a new engine, what engine and where can I source one? Are they new or recon?

I am to phone him tomorrow for a damage assessment. And discussing the possibility of him fixing the blowing exhaust, but thats on the back burner now...

Im not too depressed cos I love my bus and it will be alright in the end but Im worried about the expense to get there. The bus is 1986 1.9 DG Wasser panel van with the best bespoke interior I have seen (makes it more difficult to decide on engine or garage fix).

Thoughts/advice/contributions? Cheers

Post by **Horney** » 30 May 2007, 12:36

Is your garage man good with these engines? I.E has he had plenty of past experience with DG's and their headgaskets?

To be honest the price he's quoting doesn't seem too bad, I have heard of worse (Assuming it's for both sides). THe problem is once you start to take these things apart it seems to go from bad to worse (this is what I have read not experienced myself). People on here seem to recommend a VW recon engine if you go that route but at £1500ish it's a lot of wonga. THere is a place in essex that do recon units for £650 with free fitting. I'm not sure if their any good but the price alone suggests the unit is not as good as a VW one.

Hopefuly someone with more knowledge than I will be along shortly to further expand!

Nick

Post by **stuckin88** » 30 May 2007, 13:23

Its ok doing the heads if you do them yourself--but paying commercial rates I cant see its worth it?---how good is the rest of the engine?---If you want to keep the van--go the recon route--best budget for a new clutch & poss exaust at the same time---

Post by **clartsonly** » 30 May 2007, 13:42

I agree without any experience of taking the heads off, but the stories go new liners, then may as well do pistons, rings, sheered correded head studs, drill out exhaust studs...

I am sure some people have used "elite" or someone like that and you get an engine guarrantee too, which you will only get for the bits replaced by your garage friend. I think they were going for about £800 + £200 for your exhaust £70 for your clutch and they will nip off your existing inlet manifold and carb.

else ebay?

historical sales examples

engine 1

engine 2 <---- damn I could of afforded that one...

or just search for T25 engine there are loads on there for a couple hundred

Post by **camper** » 30 May 2007, 15:23

Replace engine for a petrol or diesel golf.£100 for a golf 1.8 petrol engine recycler.

Post by **skell** » 30 May 2007, 15:58

I don't think you can skim the heads on a wbx, it would leave a gap between head and water jacket as the head also sits on the piston barrel.
If I'm right the bloke at the garage know's not what he's talking about so I would find a garage who know what they are on about... unless I'm talking cobblers meself of course, someone else on here should be able to confirm or not my thoughts....

Post by **clartsonly** » 30 May 2007, 16:13

surely heads only need skimming it they are warped anyway, from overheating or something.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 30 May 2007, 16:34

Cannot "skim" the heads.. and they dont normaly need it.. they are usually ok or cracked..

"Tin of worms" if they do it and the other side wont be far behind.. either speak with Elite (I have not dealt with them) or if you are quick, contact Aidan "Beaker" in this club for a cracking deal on a genuine VW rebuilt engine..
Second hand is a lottery.. it could be no better than the one you have...

Post by **wasserleaker** » 30 May 2007, 18:27

As Toomanytoys says above, the heads on a watercooled flat 4 don't have a flat underside like most cyl. heads, and are therefore not skimmable, the actual liner to head seal is a ring, [pair of rings rather, for each head] which sit in a recess in the head casting and is completely separate from the head-to-waterjacket gasket, which is the most likely cause of your coolant leak problem, mechanics not familiar with these engines often assume the heads are more conventional and can be skimmed.

Post by **futbus** » 30 May 2007, 19:54

You can skim the heads but you also have to deck the liners to the same depth so that everything goes back as it should, not a cheap option as normally for the cost you can buy new heads. If you need more info then give us a call.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 31 May 2007, 07:15

Futbus has just thrown in a curve ball.. I was trying to keep it simple

Yes, someone of his talent can "skim" the heads but most will not... but then you end up with some odd clearance issues.. + the vw head doesnt have a hugh amount of metal to play with...

Post by **kefty** » 31 May 2007, 08:57

Okay guys, then the chances are that I just need new head gaskets. Obviously then Im at the mercy of time, as to when the engine finally does give up - but apart from this the engine runs nicely and pulls very well. I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

Post by **guz** » 31 May 2007, 09:06

mate of mine charges IRO £250 a side,
dependant on what machining work has to
be done, he has a local works do this.