Head gasket change - tips?

[Guest]

Cool, thanks.

 

[Guest]

Which one???

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-CLIO-WILL ... 240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAD-GASKET-SET-R ... 240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAD-GASKET-SET-R ... 240%3A1318

Loads of different sellers, different prices... any recommendations? lol

 

[Guest]

The top one. I paid £30 for my set and then £12/13 for my headbolts

 

[Guest]

How did you get your heabolts?

It mentioned in the listing that you can get your headbolts for cheap if you order with the headgasket set.. but doesn't mention how you add them on?

 

[Guest]

I'd just message the seller i cant remember how i did it when i got it as my dad ordered them. But i've got them from a motor factors which were the same BGA bolts from the ones i got online at the same price

 

[Guest]

just to add; I've got a BGA HG.... nothing to report so I guess it's doing fine

 

[Guest]

just to add; I've got a BGA HG.... nothing to report so I guess it's doing fine

BGA F4R gasket is as good as renault. I dont like their composite gaskets generally though. Got BGA headbolts in my 330ish bhp 200sx and there's nothing wrong with them

 

[Guest]

Make sure you get a good quality T55 torx bit. I went through three or four when I did mine, crappy Halfords standard issue ones. Obviously you will need a torque wrench. It helps if you have a long bar, like a breaker bar, when you do up the headbolts to the right angle. Too short and its bloody hard! If the torx bit does snap, get a magnet in there and get any metal shards out pronto.

To be honest, at this time of year (any time tbh) it's a shit job, but it will give you the chance to really give stuff a good going over, not just the HG.

Be careful lifting the cylinder head out with manifolds attached, without assistance! I hurt my back bad doing that

Dont get ripped off sending the head away to be lapped and seals done. I did. It was a good job, but they way overcharged me at the last minute. Simple compression testing and skimming should not cost much.

When you lower the head back onto the block, be careful you line it up. It would be easy to put some nice big scratches in the nice new skimmed head surface.

Make sure the 2 locating dremels are set properly before lowering head onto block.

Remember to tighten the cambelt correctly

Finally, don't turn the car over via started motor until you have hand cranked the engine fully to check valve clearances.

Have fun!

 

[Guest]

Seems like very good advice, Wobba

 

[Guest]

Cheers, excellent advice.

I gave up trying to do it in car, as there's loads of other things i need to do, so i've ripped the engine out and will strip it all down and take the head off that way.

I'm going to be relapping the valves myself, but after i've taken them out i'll send it away to be skimmed.

 

[Guest]

Cheers, excellent advice.

I gave up trying to do it in car, as there's loads of other things i need to do, so i've ripped the engine out and will strip it all down and take the head off that way.

I'm going to be relapping the valves myself, but after i've taken them out i'll send it away to be skimmed.

Lol, cheat. Well, with the engine out method, when you undo the headbolts make sure you have the engine firmly secured or else you'll just spin the engine about hehe.

 

[Guest]

Jeeze are they really that tight?

Erm i'll think of something to stop it moving.. lol

 

[Guest]

they can be, and f7 engines love to pirouette on their sumps, spin beautifully. just get a mate to hold it steady lad, job done :wink: