View Poll Results: How should I handle my head gasket R&R?
Pull the engine, you dummy! Are you kidding me?
46
66.67%
Do it in place. Get that thing back on the road in 3 weeks.
9
13.04%
Barr's Leaks and Amsoil - fixes everythign duct tape won't
9
13.04%
Ebay!
5
7.25%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll
When replacing a head gasket: Pull the engine or do it in place?
10-17-2007, 09:21 AM
#1
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When replacing a head gasket: Pull the engine or do it in place?
As many/most of you have read by now, I blew a head gasket on my Supercharged GT. https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/385124-head-gasket-went-d-oh.html
I've received a lot of conflicting advice.
Some say just do the one head with the engine in the car. Others have said I should just pull the engine and do both sides and some other WYAITs.
On the do it in place side of the equation, it is the driver's side head which should be WAY easier to do in place.
But, I do have some additional WYAITs such as:
TB and maybe the water pump.
Power steering lines
Some oil leak on the front of the engine (Front Main Seal??)
Oh, might as well do the blue hose and maybe the clutch master
So, what would you do?
I've received a lot of conflicting advice.
Some say just do the one head with the engine in the car. Others have said I should just pull the engine and do both sides and some other WYAITs.
On the do it in place side of the equation, it is the driver's side head which should be WAY easier to do in place.
But, I do have some additional WYAITs such as:
TB and maybe the water pump.
Power steering lines
Some oil leak on the front of the engine (Front Main Seal??)
Oh, might as well do the blue hose and maybe the clutch master
So, what would you do?
10-17-2007, 09:28 AM
#2
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With a 16V I will always yank the motor.
It's the end of the season anyway, no need to push the "3 week" idea. You know what will happen if you only pull the heads, something else will crop up forcing you to pull it anyway.
It's the end of the season anyway, no need to push the "3 week" idea. You know what will happen if you only pull the heads, something else will crop up forcing you to pull it anyway.
10-17-2007, 09:43 AM
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On a 16V I don't think there's even an option - the engine has to be pulled. I just pulled my engine and replaced the headgaskets. I've also replaced the cams with the engine in - never again. Not sure about the S4, but I would think that it's almost impossible to thoroughly inspect the block and prep it with it in the car.
10-17-2007, 09:53 AM
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Andrew
Pull it out, will make sense at the end of the day, i know you will have a good long list of bits to replace but your car will thank you for it, just think of all the fun and late nights ahead
Pull it out, will make sense at the end of the day, i know you will have a good long list of bits to replace but your car will thank you for it, just think of all the fun and late nights ahead
10-17-2007, 09:58 AM
#5
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Just pull it.
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10-17-2007, 10:13 AM
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10-17-2007, 10:35 AM
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10-17-2007, 11:20 AM
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Without headers, you should be able to pull the engine in just a few hours... probably 4. That is easily worth it saving you from hours of back pain bent over the fenders (and related pictures). In the end it will probably save you time plus allow you to do more work/inspection/cleanup on the engine and in the engine compartment.