quick tricks to doing the headgasket? pros welcome

[jt15833]

i've been thinking about doing my headgasket and how it needs to get put in well, but also fast. I'm wondering if there are any quick tricks that help with the speed or flow of the install? some that I though may work where

-mark timing belt to cam gears then disconnect and pull tight and support, so it never jumps a tooth on the crank gear.then simply reinstall. this saves time for removing the crank bolt and pully and possibly the radiator.-any tricks with the exhaust like you can unbolt manifold and then just push it and support it a little over to the side?

anything that saved time is always good for me to know!

[mbmbmb23]

Heres a pretty nice write up (not mine).

http://www.davidrawlinson.org.....html

[r34 gtr]

you will need a few things to do this properly.

1: Beer. lots and lots of beer.2: Band Aids3: Friends who dont actually help, but provide moral support

get ready to chew up some knuckles!! woot! seriously, I'm on the tail end of this very operation and no matter how many times i do it, it still sucks. this is lucky number uuum....four? its no easier than it was the first time. if your engine is more stock than mine you shouldnt have as many problems.

edit: that guide is quite good, but i do feel he made it seems slightly less physically and spiritually devastating than it actually is. there is the one coolant line that runs along the block that is virtually impossible to remove. i cant see where he mentioned this, and you should make note its easiest to try and disconnect it while a buddy (or two or three) lifts up on the head so you can get in there. you should still be able to lift it about three or four inches while this line is still connected, which ought to give you ample room to reach in there and manhandle it off.
Modified by r34 gtr at 1:50 PM 5/30/2007

[rico05]

I used that link's how to when I did mine, but I left the cam gears in place. Really, there is little in the way of tricks. Just remove everything, replace the gasket, and replace everything. First time took me .... like 15-16 hours. I used a Cometic, and it leaked, so I had to swap in a stocker. The second time took me about 6-8 hours. This is just one of those jobs that sucks donkey balls to have to do, but once you crack your knuckles doing it, you are all the better of a mechanic after.

The only trick that I can think of removing the turbo and manifold in one piece.

The hardest part for me was removing the nasty, fried hose for the crankcase vent on the intake side. That damn hose was such a PITA. On the upside, having everything off means you can change all the hoses and clamps for new stuff. Plus, you can do some deep cleaning of the combustion chambers and head.

[r34 gtr]

15-16 hours if you arent using stock turbo lines on a large turbo with the stock manifold. if you have made a terrible mistake like i have, try a week. oh and crying, i did a lot of crying.

[ragenasian]

Did I miss what the mistake was??? Seems to always be interesting when R34 makes a mistake.

Thanks mbmbmbmbmbmmbmbm23 for that link.

[r34 gtr]

This one! I now have him all exposed mwaha! anyway you can see it kinda sucks to get to. Taking the manifold off like this took me about 45 minutes, but generally isnt worth it unless you have dastardly plans like I do.

[burntricer]

the steel one? or that green thing, btw, wtf is that green thing?

[jt15833]

green thing is knock sensor. r34 gtr what do you mean, seperating upper and lower while its under the hood? i was planning on taking exhaust mani off under hood and pulling the head with the intake then removing the intake

[r34 gtr]

yeah, its not worth disassembling the two halves of the intake manifold. i just did it to show you the pipe that runs under there. I was going to pull them apart anyway, so i figured why the hell not. i have not pulled my exhaust manifold because its impossible to get to one of the bolts with my larger turbo. you will want to do this though.

[jt15833]

r34 gtr howd you handle that hose? is it the one at back of intake mani that faces down? i got started dissaseembling today and yesterday and all i have to say is the i hate factory turbo banjo bolts with passion

[rico05]

I just left the lines on the turbo, and removed the connections on the block, etc. I have since cut the coolant feed line shorter and changed it to a SS braided line. Should make the job easier next time.

Tim, is that a 4 port head I spy? I hate you.