is there any write ups on how to replace head gasket on a ka24de?

[driftmyke]

i searched "replacing headgasket 240sx" and nothing came up.

i just got a vert with a blown head gasket and this will be my first time doing a head gast on a dual, and the timing is whats scaring me.

thanks

[S13xCrazy]

haha! Im in the same boat with my hatch!I've done head gaskets on SOHC's before, but no dohcs!

I think its PapaSmurf who has done alot of em if im not mistaking, i think he mentioned somewhere he could do the whole job in an hour! Maybe he'll post in here and give some tips

[Michael.Timz]

i just replaced the headgasket on a DOHC.. it was a 4g63t, though and not a ka24de..

essentially though, you remove the intake manifold, the exhaust manifold, and the valve cover.. the headbolts should be in the top area of the cylinder head, just underneath the camshafts... so when you take the valve cover off, you should be able to see the head bolts.

when i did it, there were 10 of them.

take them out, and pull the head off. (i used a 2x4 piece of wood to pry it up softly)

of course this is just a general overview...

you'll wanna remove anything that will get in the way of removing either manifold..

dunno bout the drivebelts, i had to take all of the belts off the 4g63t when i did it (but that engine uses a timing belt and not a timing chain)

remove the oil & coolant

remove the batter negative.

relieve fuel pressure so the fuel rail doesn't piss on you when you remove it

timing wasn't that big of a deal on the 4g63t, because the repair manual covered the timing marks on the sprockets and pulleys. if you have a 240sx repair manual, look in there for HG replacement.

i would get all your business in order BEFORE starting the project, though.. talk to people who have done the job on KA24DE's specifically.. so there are no surprises.

** head bolts need to be tightened in the correct order, and to torque specs** (try and find out the order and the torque from someone)

** might wanna take pictures of EVAP system incase you forget where the tubes connect when you're putting it all back together. **

be careful not to overtorque any bolts like i did. all of the bolts are a decade old, they WILL break on you.

overall though, HG replacement is fairly simple

EDIT: how do you know you have a blown headgasket?

Modified by Michael.Timz at 5:35 PM 8/25/2007
Modified by Michael.Timz at 5:36 PM 8/25/2007

[S13xCrazy]

EDIT: how do you know you have a blown headgasket?might wanna save up for a cometic headgasket and ARP headstuds while you're at it. if i was in your shoes, i'd overhaul the head completely for boost

lol...most of us don't have the extra 1000$ to do "overhaul the head completely for boost"

...and who said he wanted to boost anyways?

KA stock internals are very strong! There have been people getting all of 400hp+ with stock internals on boost!

[Michael.Timz]

most of us don't buy verts with blown headgaskets. so this guy is either:

A) rich enough to buy upgradesB) the owner of another car in which he has time to save up for head work.

either way, taking off the head is a pretty detailed process. so even if i wasn't building for boost, i'd still upgrade the head components so i wouldn't have to take it off again

[S13xCrazy]

most of us don't buy verts with blown headgaskets. so obviously this guy is either:

A) rich enough to buy upgradesB) the owner of another car in which he has time to save up for head work.

whoa whoa what?For all you know, he found some person who sold the vert to him for 500$! You dont have to be loaded to buy a car with a blown headgasket. He's probably a inexperienced person who found a good deal on a car, and wants to go ahead and try to do the head gasket himself and learn on the way!

as for B), maybe he just wants a 240 vert to drive around in the summer. Boost is NOT a necessity, nor will it ever be.

so I completely disagree with your post.

so ill addC) Found a good deal, and wants to learn how to do things to vehicles!

[driftmyke]

most of us don't buy verts with blown headgaskets. so this guy is either:

A) rich enough to buy upgradesB) the owner of another car in which he has time to save up for head work.

either way, taking off the head is a pretty detailed process. so even if i wasn't building for boost, i'd still upgrade the head components so i wouldn't have to take it off again

i know the headgasket is blown because the old owner (67 year old lady) had it checked out by a mechanic and they determined HG, plus i know the systoms of a blown HG and thats what it is.

and no i am by know means rich enough for that, and the engine only has 90k sp im not gonna do any upgrading just yet.

[Michael.Timz]

Quote »

whoa whoa what?For all you know, he found some person who sold the vert to him for 500$! You dont have to be loaded to buy a car with a blown headgasket. He's probably a inexperienced person who found a good deal on a car, and wants to go ahead and try to do the head gasket himself and learn on the way!

as for B), maybe he just wants a 240 vert to drive around in the summer. Boost is NOT a necessity, nor will it ever be.

so I completely disagree with your post.

so ill addC) Found a good deal, and wants to learn how to do things to vehicles![/quote]you're getting off topic, and i didn't come here to argue.

[driftmyke]

so ill addC) Found a good deal, and wants to learn how to do things to vehicles!

ding ding ding. paid $1000 for the car, but i know how to do HG but i dont know how to do the timeing of the DOHC and thats why im looking for a write up

[S13xCrazy]

ding ding ding. paid $1000 for the car, but i know how to do HG but i dont know how to do the timeing of the DOHC and thats why im looking for a write up

Aha, i knew it!

Great deal! I have been researching myself, and ill see if i can find where some of the good information i found was!

[edgartheace]

The timing is pretty straight forward. Before you start reassembling everything make sure that the car is at TDC. To set the timing from here just make sur that the intake and exhaust lobes for cylinder 1are facing away from each other. Intake at the 9 o'clock positionand the exhaust in the 3 o'clock position. There should be exaactly 6 links between the intake cam timing mark and the exhaust cam timing mark. Follow this link if you are still confused about the timing. http://jimwolftechnology.com/wolfpdf/CA ... CTIONS.PDF

[cmfireman]

The 240sx uses head studs instead of bolts. I would recommend buying new ones (36$) from Nissan USA, and getting the head shaved a bit or at least checked to make sure theres no warpage. (Cost me $130 at the local machine shop).

[edgartheace]

Forgot to tell you that the 1993 KA uses bolts with a 10MM allen key head.

[S13xCrazy]

The 240sx uses head studs instead of bolts. I would recommend buying new ones (36$) from Nissan USA, and getting the head shaved a bit or at least checked to make sure theres no warpage. (Cost me $130 at the local machine shop).

there that cheap?and "Nissan USA" as in a Nissan dealer?

[91nissantwo40sx]

Forgot to tell you that the 1993 KA uses bolts with a 10MM allen key head.

I think all the KA24DE engines do. Becareful not to strip the bolts or else good like finding another one somewhere. You will probably need to get it shipped from Japan.