Well, the headgasket blew on my 1987 GL-10 turbo FT4WD D/R sedan. This is coming a month after the crankshaft broke in my wife's truck. I am officially without a vehicle. What is involved in changing the headgasket? Does the engine need to come out or can it be replaced on the car? Does anyone know how much a used japanese engine typically runs? Does anyone want to change the headgasket for me for a few hundred dollars (I have no garage)? Any advice would be appreciated, since I am borrowing a friend's truck for a few weeks (but I need a running car ASAP!).

 

Thanks, Tom

Get ahold of Richierich, he has a shop in PDX and might be able to help you out. I believe its called Import Specialties.

Last time I priced a JDM EA82T was 3 or 4 years ago, but at that time they wanted $750 in Seattle area, couple hundred more than a regular EA82. The way JDM pricing works, it could be anything today and entirely different tomorrow.

 

From everything I've heard, not really possible to change the headgasket in the car; not enough room between head and bodywork. My back wouldn't let me stoop over that long anyway; much simpler to pull the engine.

It can be done in the car. Its easier to pull the engine. Depends mostly on the resources you have available. Beware of stripping the headbolt threads upon retorque

Yes, you can change them in the car. You only need a basic set of tools, and the gasket set to do it.

 

As mentioned elsewhere...the head bolts stripping is always a possibility. I've done 2 now and not stripped one yet, though.

 

My secret is to clean the threads on the bolts very well, and to clean out the holes in the head as well as you can with some spray cleaner stuff, then to thread a oiled bolt all the way in and out of each hole to make sure it goes in smoothly all the way. Repeat the in/out with the oiled bolt until it will go in with just your fingers turning it. When you do it this way, all the torque you are applying is going into the clamping and not into pushing crap out of the way.

 

Good luck!

 

Well, the headgasket blew on my 1987 GL-10 turbo FT4WD D/R sedan. This is coming a month after the crankshaft broke in my wife's truck. I am officially without a vehicle. What is involved in changing the headgasket? Does the engine need to come out or can it be replaced on the car? Does anyone know how much a used japanese engine typically runs? Does anyone want to change the headgasket for me for a few hundred dollars (I have no garage)? Any advice would be appreciated, since I am borrowing a friend's truck for a few weeks (but I need a running car ASAP!).

 

Thanks, Tom

My secret is to clean the threads on the bolts very well, and to clean out the holes in the head as well as you can with some spray cleaner stuff, then to thread a oiled bolt all the way in and out of each hole to make sure it goes in smoothly all the way. Repeat the in/out with the oiled bolt until it will go in with just your fingers turning it. When you do it this way, all the torque you are applying is going into the clamping and not into pushing crap out of the way.

 

Good luck!

Thanks for the tip

dont forget to figure out how to remove the cross pipe and turbo before you pull the heads.

 

my advice is to pull the motor, if you have a crane.the motor will puill out with everything still on it. you can do the head gaskets with the motor sitting in a 5 gal bucket. the time it takes to pull the motor will save tou time doing it in the car.

I have the garage, I have the hoist, but I have 2 project cars in line already and no time to even get THEM fixed!

 

If I wasnt so busy I'd do the the replacement for you