What should i do?
 

what should i do, my car has a blown head gasket, and it is blow because i have a fully built head and not a build up lower end. I bought a new cylinder head for it, and a fel pro head gasket kit. My parents offered me 400 to take is somehwere and get it fixed, but i am weirey because i might be able to do it myslef, with the help of a hanes manual. what should i do? also if i accept the 400 that is basically my christmas!! thanks

Re:What should i do?
 

Thats weird.Ive never heard of a head gasket blowing couse you had head work done.It may of not been done properly when the head was re-installed.I would try and do it myself.The thing is that the Hayns manuels suck though.Do a google search and try to find torque specs and other usefull imformation.

Also if they milled the head and your block is warped that could be a problem.

Re:What should i do?
 

Yeah, I'd try and do it yourself. It will benifit you by knowing how to do it. That way if theres a problem in the future, it won't be that big of a deal.

Re:What should i do?
 

DO NOT USE A FELPRO GASKET!
I have gone through a few of them and they are complete ---- compared to the OEM ones from the dealer. Take a look at the two of them next to each other and you'll see what I am talking about.

Re:What should i do?
 

yeah i know the fel pro isnt as good as the oem, but that is what i have for now.. i bought a head new head, and i am going to replace the one that is in there until i can work on the lower end... It blew a head gasket because it was running 16psi with all the head work done. It didnt really blow because there was no lower end work, but i dont want to run the motor with the head built up and the bottom not, because i might mess something else up!

Re:What should i do?
 

Unless the cam is so big that the valves hit the top of the pistons, there is no way the top end is going to hurt the bottom end.

What kind of management were you running at 16psi?
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Re:What should i do?
 

nooonon i think i messed up, the head gasket blew because it was running alot of boost, but i was told that i should built the bottom end up before i run it with the built head and 16 psi..... i am runnign that in a GST, i know not honda, but i just sold my honda for it.... but anyway, i just need to know what i should do or what should happen i am very lost

Re:What should i do?
 

16psi is no problem for a dsm...my bet is that whatever shop did the top end didnt mill the head

Re:What should i do?
 

Several inputs on this one...

1. The only time I have heard of a rebuilt top end hurting the bottom end, is stories about the increased compression causing accelerate blow-by problems. I have never seen this myself, just heard it as an old mechanics tale...

2. If you don't have the skillz (not flaming you), and you need the car right away, you may want to consider the shop approach. An experienced mechanic may be able to spot the problem that your untrained eye may overlook. Nothing would suck worse than investing the time, and then having to do it all over again, especially if you need to depend on the car as a daily driver.

3. If you can handle having the car off the road for a considerable amount of time, nothing beats working on it yourself! Label everything and go at it! The knowledge and self-satisfaction are great rewards!

4. Also, if you are going to do the work your self, get the right gear...don't rely on Hanes/Chilton/Autozone/FelPro or other related crap! Get a factory Honda head gasket. Throw away the FelPro gasket. And get a factory manual from Helms... http://www.helminc.com

Just my three cents....


Craig

Re:What should i do?
 

craig i appreciate that alot, i was wrong about the head i misunderstod the guy, i am going to take the block off and head bore it and machine it so it will be right, leave the head, do it all myself, and mabey get new pistons and heads, thanks alot i still need the help

Re:What should i do?
 

I'm soooo confused. ???
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Re:What should i do?
 

ditto...you say you blew a head gasket, why are you messing with pistons, then you say you will be leaving the head, then you say you are getting a new one....im lost

Re:What should i do?
 

well i think he was saying he originally misunderstood the guy that said his gasket blew because he had the head built and not the bottom end built. 2ndly i think hes going to take the motor apart have the block bored out? and then either he was saying hes gonna buy pistons and rods(heads in rods place on accident) or buy a new oem head gasket and do the work himself
some ----
either way goodluck man... 16psi is no problem on that dsm... what is a problem is that headwork that was done... i just have a feeling its fucked up
no offense

Re:What should i do?
 

yeah 88 got it right, but why do you think the head is messed up??? it has everything but cams?? the head is solid, the gasket blew at 140 and i knew something didnt feel right but i droped it and floored it and that is when it blew, but i am going to have the head and the block leveled, and bored 20 over. mabey with some new pistons. Sorry i couldnt type last night i was a little upset with this situation. But I appreciate the help. and i would like to know some more before i do anything at all

Re:What should i do?
 

If this was a Honda I would say go for it, but the DSM is a different story. This is a very difficult job for a professional, I would not recomend it for a beginner. The cam timing on the twin cam motor is very difficult to get right, the dealership has special tools to hold the cams in place that you may not have. I have replaced several heads on these motors over the years from broken timing belts. It's an all day job in a shop with a lift and air tools. I can't imagine what it would be like on the ground with hand tools. I am a ASE master tech with 15 years experience and a great set of tools, if someone offered me $400 to do this job in the back yard I would say NO!

Re:What should i do?
 

yeah i agree. all i am doing is taking the motor out and taking it to the machine shop. then putting it all back together in my car. Then i am going to take it to a shop to adjust the timing. I am not going to worry about the timing.

Re:What should i do?
 

dsm timming belts are a nightmare

Re:What should i do?
 

i hate my dsm already i want a CRX, or a hatch back for real