Head Gasket Install

[moso240]

Motor is a RB20DET After noticing the exhuast side at piston #6 the block was all wet, Trying to fiquire it out I noticed my Coolant looked like chocolate milk and im getting a lite white smoke from the PCV things on the valve covers...

I assume its my headgasket and after searching both NICO and google..i found nothing, Im looking for a write up or intructions on replacing the headgasket?, I looked threw the FSM but it only skims threw it....

[Vkoslak]

Mmm chocolate milk...

Either someone dumped yoohoo in your radiator, or its your headgasket.

I've done a headgasket on a KA24DE, the process should be the same, just a bigger gasket as far as the actual gasket part is concerned. Get the head checked to make sure the bottom is flat. Get the block checked as well.

Getting the head off... I haven't tried it yet. Just start removing bolts until it moves

You should use this as an opportunity to have some head work done. Just tell the wife/gf "the head is off anyhow, it will be cheaper in the long run." maybe she will believe you.

[moso240]

haha...Anyone have experiance with the RB?

[Darius]

Yes. Read the FSM for taking off all the ancillary parts to the head. Just keep baggies of bolts labeled for everything.

As far as the head gasket goes, just use an OEM organic gasket if you aren't going to strip the block down to get the deck finished. Replace the stock head bolts with ARP head studs and put everything back together again according to the FSM.

[moso240]

will the OEM gasket even hold the 20PSI im currently blasting threw my motorset?

[Darius]

Depends on your tune, but yes it will hold over 24 psi for sure. Again, it depends on the quality and aggressiveness of the tune.

<edit> And the size of the turbo matters as well. 24 psi on the stock unit (if would hold together), would not flow the kind of air and create the power/pressure that say a 35R at 24 psi would.
Modified by Darius at 9:43 AM 4/14/2009

[cdorhout]

If it were me, I'd throw a metal head gasket in there at that time. I run a Cosworth and really like it, it sealed really well.

[240z4u]

Again, metal gaskets are a bad idea unless you plan on having the machine work done so they seal properly.

Most RB's bust ringlands first it seems anyway.

I run 25psi on pumpgas with no headgasket problems. Head studs are worth the money though.

Evan

[moso240]

T3/T4 to4z Garrett Good news tho i finally got to put the car on a lift and drain all the coolant and turns out the radiator was just rly rusted. better then a head gasket though I guess when the previous owner ran Straight water when he let the car sit for a couple years rly took a toll on it.

From Headgasket to just a simple new Rad and valve cover gaskets

Thanks for the help tho guy i aprreciate it

[Darius]

You lucky bastard!

[Carl H]

gross, i'd almost say run some CLR thru it for a few minutes to get rid of that rust buildup.glad it wasnt anything major man.keep on boostin!