purcashing 1987 toyota supra soon, YAY! HG questions inside.

[Kuban]

Originally Posted by IHateHacks

"Total part will probably run you around 350$"

Incorrect. That will cover the machine work on the head, the head gasket itself and head bolts. And yes, heads should always be sent to a machine shop regardless of what you think. You then need a turbo gasket set which you can only get at the dealer and is $95. You need intake manifold and intake chamber gaskets, fuel injector insulators, grommets and O-rings, copper sealing washers for the fuel rail, fuel line, and turbo oil feed, exhaust manifold gasket, EGR cooler and EGR valve gaskets, etc..... If you look at my BHG post I have a detailed list of all the parts that are needed to repair a head gasket and the prices. The price is more like $700 and thats with a stock head gasket. Metal head gaskets are easily $200 themselves. I paid $99+ shipping for ARP head bolts. Be prepared for extensive labor if you do it yourself, 20 year old gaskets don't just peel off. You better have the tools or a hook up for the tools or that bill will easily add up to $500 itself.

If you would have read my post with more accuracy you would have noticed i left the machining of the head/block out of those costs. Thats why i labeled it "parts cost", not "labor cost". My family owns a machine shop, thus rendering that cost useless. All the other "Recomendations" you listed to replace are prefered yes but not necessary. Especially the turbo gasket being metal, depending on condition is very reusable. It all depends on how the previous owner took care of the car.

[IHateHacks]

"Especially the turbo gasket being metal, depending on condition is very reusable"

No they are not. Why don't you read the TSRM before you start making things up.

"My family owns a machine shop, thus rendering that cost useless."

Oh thats right, everyone owns a machine shop so no one has to pay for machine work. Plus normal machine work only costs $100 anyways. I had extra work done which came to $200. That still leaves $500 in PARTS not $350. Oh wait, you reuse all the gaskets, yeah thats smart.

Have you replaced a head gasket on a turbo 87-92 supra before? I didn't think so.

No professional automotive technician reuses any gasket. In the automotive field we call people who do that Hacks.

[Kuban]

OF coarse the TSRM is going to say replace all the gaskets! You think its going to say reuse all gaskets in reckless abandoment? No but what im saying is, most metal gaskets such as exhaust manifold gaskets, pending condition, as i stated above yet AGAIN, CAN be reused. Iv done head gaskets on at 3 other turbo cars, so dont try and tell me you CANT reuse a gasket. Lets not forget one of those was a dsm. Trust me if you think you get headaches with the 7m, try living with a dsm in your garage. I did the hg on that replacing the hg and head studs, BUT not replacing the exhaust manifold gasket nor the turbo gasket. Ran 20psi daily making 440whp. I think its safe to say it can easily be done.

[IHateHacks]

I never said you CANT do anything. You can reuse your head gasket for all I care.

I'm stating facts, not opinions. Fact is gaskets are not reusable. Opinion: I reused my gaskets so anybody can as long as you look at them and you THINK they are ok.

Reusing gaskets is not a recommended practice, period. I'm not going to argue with someone thats hell bent on reusing gaskets. Just remember, theres about 15 technicians laughing at you right now.

[SideWinderGX]

lol, mmk. ill save up some money for the headgaskets to be done and specify ARP studs.

im going to assume driving the car hard will put excess strain on the engine and cause it to blow earlier, correcto? not like, hard all day, but a couple throttle blips/launches/WOTs? its going to be hard driving it like a baby all the time.

[Kuban]

Im not arguing with you man. Im simply stating personal experience. Iv reused certain gaskets and have had no problems, thats all. Im not saying reuse intake gaskets or tb gaskets or anything made of the paper composite. I was just saying you can often reuse metal gaskets and not have issues.

Also dude dont get up on it at all if you even think it has a bhg. First do all the symptom checks, and if it shows no sign then dont worry about it until those symptoms occur. Drive it like its a scion xb. Just pretend like the power isnt there and your trying to get some good gas mileage. Plus look at the weather man, would you even really have reason to with this until at least spring. And from what you wrote you are doing this before then anyway. Right now its -30 with wind chill here. And surprisingly my supra started right up after sitting for 8hrs while i was at work. These cars can be amazing if treated right. Just do your research like you are and youl be fine.

[SideWinderGX]

im not gonna buy it if it has a blown headgasket haha, thats too much money for me atm...unless he gave it to me for a couple grand off and the deduction would cover the repairs. but whatever.

def not driving it much at all in the weather right now, we had a cold day today so im not even in school...roads are horrible.

im not doing the headgasket repair until i have enough money. i should have about a grand in 3 weeks, maybe more. and yes, i agree, any of the supras can be extremely resilient if theyre well cared for...which is why im so willing to dump money into this car like nothing.

thanks!

[Kuban]

yup its still -30 here.

[SideWinderGX]

crap, we have school today. and the place my rents need to go to hand in taxes is in a travel advisory and a winter emergency or something (fulton). GAH!

[SideWinderGX]

ill have the money in 3 weeks, ill keep everyone updated because i have nowhere else to spill out my excitement :-D

oh, and my amazing luck continues. he got rear ended yesterday and some stuff is broken\bent, so hes gotta get that fixed. yay insurance. gah.