Head gasket and timing belt change, what do i need?

[mozzer_morrey]

Well i'm a complete rookie at this, but water and oil mixing seems to mean one thing from what i've read. Can't afford to send it to a garage so im going to give it a go myself, is this wise?

Going to take the head off and check the gasket as i assume that has gone, is there anything else to look out for that could be broken after it overheated?

While i'm sorting this i'm going to change the timing belt as well. Aside from the timing tool kit is there anything else i need such as any specialist tools?

Any help will be much appreciated, cheers!

 

[banther]

I'd prepare yourself for a hard rogering here in terms of advice..... I think the common advice is take it somewhere as its very VERY easy for the timing to be knocked out, by all accounts. Many horror stories of people taking it to mechanics, then taking it again to a specialist.

​Anyway, good luck

 

[Spinksy]

Tbh mate if the head gasket is gone you will need the head skimming and compression tested. I chose to replace the entire lump just in case one the the valves were fooked... turned up roses when stripping my old engine down to find a cracked head, a couple of borked valves that would have cost more than I paid for a second hand engine...

but have a word with a few specialists off here about prices/advice

 

[mozzer_morrey]

Cheers, I don't mind a hard rogering in terms of advice, i don't think i can justify sending it to a specialist to be fixed. its only a 1.4 16v and its not worth spending a fortune on fixing it so whats why i wanted to have a go myself

i hope mine hasn't done any more damage, it still drives at the moment, i havent been driving it though before you say anything. i'd like to strip myself to see the damage but then its stuck on my drive. The specialists are all miles away from me. Birchdown are the closest but they only talk about clio sports on the website.

 

[Spinksy]

why not contact renparts about the price for a replacement 1.4 lump (minus ancillaries as you can use yours) or even a 1.6 as they will fit

that way if you do strip yours down and find damage you have a backup also with you contacting them early enough Renparts would be able to get it to you pretty fast so you wouldn't be off the road too long, and they aren't stupidly priced like most other breakers

 

[Filippo]

Birchdown will sort you out mate. Good guys and good prices.

 

[ben lee]

you would be looking about £550 in parts to repair yours. you could get a 2nd hand engine but you wont no what its like/history.

if the 2nd hand engine dont come with prof the cambelt and aux has been done or is due would need changing that will need doing before fitting the engine. could fit a 2nd hand engine drive it for a week then then head gasket could fail.

i would rather repair your original engine work out about the same as buying a 2nd hand engine.

would need timing pins,degrees gauge and torque wrench.

just changed cams,flywheel,clutch,gearbox,cambelt,aux belt ecton my 1.6 16v same engine as the 1.4 just 200cc more.
who ever changed the cambelt before used tipex and had the timing out by 1-2 teeth.

 

[mozzer_morrey]

£550 just for the parts?? Ive priced up the parts from CES for timing belt, timing kit, head gasket, new head bolts, water pump and that was only £260.

Renparts have lumps for 300 with postage but ideally i just want to fix my engine as you say i don't know the history on a 2nd hand one.

I've emailed Birchdown as well so i'll see what they say.

 

[jenic]

You'll need head skimmed aswell, which will cost about £100

 

[Filippo]

It's never £550 for parts.

 

[ben lee]

thats with renault prices dont forget things like oil,oil filter,pas fluid, anti freeze, sealants,head skim,pressure test, thermostat aux kit.

 

[ben lee]

will also need inlet gasket,exhaust gasket,cam seals crank bolt if your kits dont include them, (aircon pump seals and gas removal recharge if fitted)

 

[lemonnobby]

Don't touch the air con..
Do not buy a second hand engine. Only do that of it was goosed.
Birchdown will do anything mate. not just sports.

 

[Dymanique06]

I did the head gasket myself on my old 1.4 with no previous experience. It was an absolute b*****d! Took me a few days with the help of a mate but it was well worth saving the money and the best learning curve in these things that you'll get!

Mine didn't need skimming and IIRC it didn't cost me more than £150 for everything, even had to deal with a sheared manifold bolt/thread, bought a new one plus brand new head bolts from renault as well included in that!

It depends how badly it's gone, if you catch it early on you've got a good chance of getting away with not skimming it just clean the faces very well take your time, and use a Haynes manual and a friend who knows a bit more about it

Good luck!

 

[Addicted]

If you're doing it yourself don't forget you need ALL 3 tools to do the cambelt, otherwise timing WILL be out ^^

 

[mozzer_morrey]

it had an oil filter change before christmas, i've got oil and coolant already. Im hoping i don't need my head skimmed as well, but i wont know until i take the head off. This might be a stupid question but how will i know whether it needs skimming or not?

Are the 3 tools the ones that ben mentioned before? timing pins,degrees gauge and torque wrench?

I havent got much spare time at the moment but need it sorting asap so ill make a decision when birchdown get back to me. Cheers for your help guys!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

If you're doing it yourself don't forget you need ALL 3 tools to do the cambelt, otherwise timing WILL be out ^^

On a 1.4 !?

 

[ben lee]

you wont know if it needs skimming if you just look at it will need to get it checked chances are it will need doing if it over heated.

the timing tool set you will need the 3. you need bar to set the cams,pin to lock the cams then a tool to lock the cams.

sorry wont need to touch the aircon system was thinking when i done mine because i removed the engine.

 

[ben lee]

On a 1.4 !?

yes on a 1.4 or 1.6 16v.

 

[mozzer_morrey]

cheers, are those tools specific to my engine or could i borrow the tools off a friend who works on vauxhalls? this is a massive learning curve for me!

 

[ben lee]

they are only fit the renaults.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4PC-Renau...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f21920bc5

 

[ben lee]

http://www.contitech.de/pages/produkte/antriebsriemen/kfz-ersatz/docs/ti/10_Special_01_en.pdf

guide to timing/ fitting the cambelt kit.

 

[mozzer_morrey]

cheers for the help bud