Blown Head Gasket Symptoms!

IHateHacks · 02-27-2007, 05:12 PM

My head wasn't warped at all, yet I still had my machine shop plane the head. To have a head cleaned (as clean as the day it was made), checked for cracks, and planed it only costs $150 give or take a few $$. No way in hell it costs $800 to have a head machined, you can buy a rebuilt cylinder head for that much.

If you are using a metal head gasket you must get the head planed. You also MUST lap the block. I used a factory head gasket and I still had the head planed.

I replaced every hose and gasket doing my head gasket, I even bought a new timing belt tensioner which cost $140 by itself, and I'm still well under the $1000 mark. Even with the 20 cans of brake cleaner and 5 rolls of shop rags I'm right around $850 total, machine work and parts.

I understand you will be having a shop do yours, which is not the smartest idea, because no matter what you say to them, they will still torque the head bolts to the factory 58ft/lbs. They are not going to listen to a customer over factory specs. And they will overcharge you, you'd be lucky to drive out of there with a new undertorqued headgasket for $1500.

SideWinderGX · 02-27-2007, 08:29 PM

ok, planing the head sounds like an amazing idea for that cheap, ill definitely ahve that done then. thank you

however, since im using the ARP studs, the mechanic (who ive talked to before, and has a handful of 500+ HP cars of his own...his monte carlo is amazing) says he will torque 5 over whatever spec hes using. i said were going to use what the ARP studs say, he says thats fine, so itll end up in the high 70s. i was happy about that.

just...eck...i can get the headgasket and studs myself, ill just give them to him and he'll do the labor. but the labor part sucks haha....almost a grand for everything, easily. he did an 88 supra before and that took him about 16 hours (which i gasped at) and he said hes gonna cut me a small deal since i know a buncha people that work there.

difference between lapping the block, and getting the block planed is? ima guess that planing it makes it as smooth\flat as possible, and lapping just cleans it all up and makes it look all perfect. will lapping the block cost much?

88Tsupra · 03-02-2007, 06:14 AM

hey guys...i bought my mkiii supra on janurary 28th and they said they swapped it for a metal headgasket cuz so far i have no trouble with it..buh is there a way to know for sure its a MHG...cuz i dont wanna get my downpipe 3inch elbow high flow cat and see symptoms..hopefully that wont do n e thign to the HG..i floor it some times buh only up to 4500 once in awhile 5000 when damn people cut me off...help me plz i dont want a BHG

IHateHacks · 03-02-2007, 04:28 PM

Only way to know what kind of head gasket you have is to take the head off.

Only way to determine if your head gasket is leaking/blown is to run a block test.

88Tsupra · 03-03-2007, 07:31 AM

on a difficulty scale wha is it and how long will it take..cuz i dont have garage(house) to store my car in

02-27-2007, 08:29 PM	#2
SideWinderGX 3" Exhaust Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 203	ok, planing the head sounds like an amazing idea for that cheap, ill definitely ahve that done then. thank you however, since im using the ARP studs, the mechanic (who ive talked to before, and has a handful of 500+ HP cars of his own...his monte carlo is amazing) says he will torque 5 over whatever spec hes using. i said were going to use what the ARP studs say, he says thats fine, so itll end up in the high 70s. i was happy about that. just...eck...i can get the headgasket and studs myself, ill just give them to him and he'll do the labor. but the labor part sucks haha....almost a grand for everything, easily. he did an 88 supra before and that took him about 16 hours (which i gasped at) and he said hes gonna cut me a small deal since i know a buncha people that work there. difference between lapping the block, and getting the block planed is? ima guess that planing it makes it as smooth\flat as possible, and lapping just cleans it all up and makes it look all perfect. will lapping the block cost much? __________________ my car: 1987 brownish Toyota Supra Turbo, automatic 7MGTE engine with ~100k miles on it.

03-02-2007, 06:14 AM	#3
88Tsupra 12psi boost Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long beach, CA Posts: 252	hey guys...i bought my mkiii supra on janurary 28th and they said they swapped it for a metal headgasket cuz so far i have no trouble with it..buh is there a way to know for sure its a MHG...cuz i dont wanna get my downpipe 3inch elbow high flow cat and see symptoms..hopefully that wont do n e thign to the HG..i floor it some times buh only up to 4500 once in awhile 5000 when damn people cut me off...help me plz i dont want a BHG __________________ 88turbo targa-white original Pin Stripe custom intake-Tenzo filter.....Momo racing seats and steering wheel... apexi exhaust tip-custom 3" piping. Replaced with RSR GT II NGK plug and wires HID conversion head lights HKS Turbo Timer Type-1 (in black) Tial BOV BIC DDP

03-03-2007, 07:31 AM	#5
88Tsupra 12psi boost Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long beach, CA Posts: 252	on a difficulty scale wha is it and how long will it take..cuz i dont have garage(house) to store my car in __________________ 88turbo targa-white original Pin Stripe custom intake-Tenzo filter.....Momo racing seats and steering wheel... apexi exhaust tip-custom 3" piping. Replaced with RSR GT II NGK plug and wires HID conversion head lights HKS Turbo Timer Type-1 (in black) Tial BOV BIC DDP

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02-27-2007, 05:12 PM	#1
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	My head wasn't warped at all, yet I still had my machine shop plane the head. To have a head cleaned (as clean as the day it was made), checked for cracks, and planed it only costs $150 give or take a few $$. No way in hell it costs $800 to have a head machined, you can buy a rebuilt cylinder head for that much. If you are using a metal head gasket you must get the head planed. You also MUST lap the block. I used a factory head gasket and I still had the head planed. I replaced every hose and gasket doing my head gasket, I even bought a new timing belt tensioner which cost $140 by itself, and I'm still well under the $1000 mark. Even with the 20 cans of brake cleaner and 5 rolls of shop rags I'm right around $850 total, machine work and parts. I understand you will be having a shop do yours, which is not the smartest idea, because no matter what you say to them, they will still torque the head bolts to the factory 58ft/lbs. They are not going to listen to a customer over factory specs. And they will overcharge you, you'd be lucky to drive out of there with a new undertorqued headgasket for $1500.

03-02-2007, 04:28 PM	#4
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	Only way to know what kind of head gasket you have is to take the head off. Only way to determine if your head gasket is leaking/blown is to run a block test.