Head gasket

[Zombiecheez8687]

What's up NICOclub? A couple weeks ago I purchased a 91z with a blown head gasket. I've ordered and finally received the head bolts and I'm going to pick up the gasket set tonight. Just curious if there's anything else I should check while I've got the top end torn down and just looking for some advice and tips for the job itself. I think I've got most of the tools with the exception of a pulley puller and a couple other things. I'm going to replace both head gaskets and I'm taking the one head (both actually) to a shop to have it checked out. Any advice or insight is appreciated

[DCaff300ZX]

Welcome!
NOT good to have a blown HG on a VG30DE, hope you got that car for less than $500 because you are gonna be spending a lot more just to get the engine back to wherever it was condition-wise before the blown HG...and with a blown HG makes me at least VERY leery of what else lays hidden away in lacking maintenance since blowing the HG means there's a lot of other problems that led to that and the PO did nothing obviously.
You will need to test everything to determine how and why the HG(s) blew, what damage occurred to the pistons and rotating assembly, and more.
The fsm is your friend, that and a lot of time and tools!

[Zombiecheez8687]

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I picked it up for 1500. Story I got was that it started over heating after he was ran off the road and he's replaced most of the rest of the cooling system - fan, radiator, water pump, thermo etc. Only to finally figure out that it's a blown head gasket. I've listened to it run. Even let it get up to operating temp (only once) and it SEEMS (fingers crossed) to be OK. Nothing else sounds funny at all. I've finally got the head gasket set in. I'm doing both sides and so long as everything goes smooth I'll be taking it to a shop to have the one head checked out

[evildky]

Timing Belt, tensioner, tensioner stud, idlers, idler studs

[Zombiecheez8687]

Timing Belt, tensioner, tensioner stud, idlers, idler studs

Dude told me when he had replaced the water pump and fan that the timing belt looked brand new. Of course I'm gonna inspect it myself. What should I look for as far as the tensioner and idler?