Help me change my head gaskets!!

[grey1]

What is the correct way to begin and how long? Ball-Park figure. Also, when I get the heads off, what am I looking for? Thanks, Dave

 

[grey1]

Went and started it today. Bubbles in the radiator. Looks like oil in there too. Pulled off the oil filler cap and lots of pressure there too. Both breathers are smoking bad when I rev it a little. Sounds like it's running on 4 or 5 cylinders.

 

[gofstbuick]

Have you pulled any plugs yet? Cylinder head R/R for a GN is 9.8 hours. Make sure you mark everything, esp the location of connectors to sensors and actuators. When you pull the heads, look at the gasket and surface (heads and block) and it will probably provide a clue as to where the h/g blew. As others have posted there may be damage from coolant attacking the bearings, which may result in premature engine failure. I would at least re prime the oil pump on re-assembly to ensure there is oil on the bearing surface (use a SBC priming tool, shaft only). Besides severely punishing your kid, this would be a good opportunity for him to help you fix your car. Maybe then, he will appreciate what it takes to maintain a vehicle. My cousin and I always used to race around, and my uncle always told us "If you're going to hot rod around, you better learn how to fix your car or you'll be spending alot of dollars with a mechanic". That's how I got involved in the automotive repair industry. I'm sure there is enough knowlwdge on this board to assist you with changing your head gaskets. Good luck, you'll do just fine

 

[Scott231]

Originally posted by grey1
What is the correct way to begin and how long?

That info should all be on www.gnttype.org

Ball Park figure...all depends on how good you are with wrenching. If this is the first time, I wouldn't balk at 12 total hours including cleaning up parts along the way. From the sounds of what you have described, I'd also pull the oil pan and empty out all of the water. And if you are pulling the pan, it is a good time (REAL GOOD TIME) to also change over to a neoprene rear main oil seal. Both additional projects will add a few more hours to the ball park figure.

 

[Jon01]

If you've got oil in the radiator, you should pull that out and get it boiled out by a radiator shop also.
I'm only 21, but I know that if I did something like that with my dad's car, I sure as hell would'nt be out rollerblading with my girlfriend. I'd be working a job or two so I could be paying for every single thing that needed replaced, and be out there learning how to go through the top end of a turbo 3.8.
Good luck!
Jon

 

[Steve Wood]

If it got antifreeze into the oil...(oil will be a nice scummy brown), it is going to require bearings most likely...it is deadly on bearings...the ones on the lower end, or not that bad..but the cam bearings are another matter.