I Don’t beleeeeive it!!

[TheBlueTurk]

O.k I can quite easily say I am up sh*te creek without a paddle. I have just ordered a Ractive induction kit, Devil twin centre exhust, Breaded hoses and few other bits and bobs, and Terminator full kit (front/back bumper, side skirts and a spoiler) for my J reg valver. This was due to go in and get every thing fitted as well as a few minor rust spots removed and the de chipping of the bonnet done today.

So I was driving a friend home to Doninghurst saturday all was fine. On the return trip to Southend I ran into a problem. I got all the way back to Rayleigh when the poo hit the fan. Half way up Crown hill (big hill) the overheating light flicks on and steam starts lashing from the front of the car................. nice!! AA come out check it out and said he thinks the water pump has gone and I have to get it a garage asap. So anyways to cut a long story short take it in to the place that is to do the mod work on the car they open her up while I am at work. I get a phone call saying the cars Head Gasket has gone. The guy quotes me £790 - £1000 to get it all sorted, skimmed, belt oil fiter, bolts etc. The big question is .........

Am I being shafted or is this a major problem and who are the best people to sort it out for me. It shall be going to French Car-nection to get double checked in Friday (is this wise).

I am also thinking of instead of getting it fixed getting a recon engine but I would have no clue as to know where I would get out from and have you any idea how much one would cost, and is it worth it?

Any help would be a life saver!!

 

[Clapshot]

e-mail mailtoaul@infinicar.com">paul@infinicar.com, he has a low mileage williams engine for sale, i think hes wantin £1200 or so for it. Not sure hom much it would cost a garage to replace the eninge though but if it might cost £1000 to replace the head gasket the extra few hundred would be worth it!!

 

[philglover]

hhhhhhooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww mmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuccccccccchhhhhhhhhh??????????????????????
f**k me sideways! That seems a little excessiive doesnt it? Considering you can pick up a 16v (the whole thing) for about £2.5k now!

 

[miltage2]

I THINK THAT GASKET SHOULD COST MY LIKE 500 QUID, GET A QUOTE FROM ANOTHER DEALERS!

 

[Gareth]

that is definately way toooooooooooooooo muuuuuuuuuuucccchhhhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[TheBlueTurk]

I have been getting quotes from all over the place but they are all about the same its a 10 - 20 job (apparently) so a good 400 notes is all do to labour costs etc

I may just go with a re-con or a willy replacment what do you lot think?

 

[DTWD]

Did it have a water leak? Cos I had a similar thing happen to mine the other week. Just decided to drop watter everywhere and get very very hot. I switched her off, let it cool, then filled it up with water and drove rather gingerly home. Got back filled it up again and put this paste in. Ran the engine a few times for long ish periods of time and this paste was sent around the engine and radiator and all that filling the cracks. Did it the other week and not had a problem since. No leeks or problems. But the gem is it only cos me £2.50.

Probably not the same problem. But for the price if its anything similar surely its worth a go.

Paul

 

[RobFenn]

Wouldnt you need a new gearbox too? And wouldnt labour costs be even more than te head gaskets?

 

[Fred@BTM]

You can run a valver box on a willy engine cant you??? £1000 for a head gasket???? I would do it myself and save a few hundred quid (not a good idea, but ill have a bash at anything!!!) Go for the Willy engine

 

[Will16V]

If ur gonna pay that much - try n get a williams engine....but i somehow think youve been quoted a bit TOO much....you could buy a sh1tter of a 16V, re-con the engine, put it in yours, and use the other for spare parts for this money!

 

[TheBlueTurk]

I had the water thing so I may try that paste stuff, what stuff was it? I am seriously thinking of getting the williams engine anybody got any ideas on where I can get a good one, that aint gonna cost shed loads of money to get sorted. Or anybody know where I can get the (or another) engine re-coned?

 

[DTWD]

Just go into virtually any car type place and they should have it. My dad had some in his garage so used that. Its just called radiator paste or something. Just tell the people in the shop about what it does and they should be able to find it for you. I think it was Radweld or something like that.



Paul

 

[coolspot007007]

If it had a serious water leak (from the front but not too sure where, say round the inlet manifold but cant pinpoint it from above or below) sounds like it might have been a core plug. Im talking needing topping up with 6 litres mid journey to do a 10-15 minute drive kind of water loss. Cost £1.20 from renault, paid £100 on my RT. Valver - whole new ball game im afraid.

Might well be the pump, never had one go on me though. If not such a serious water loss try Radweld or Halfords do a sandy looking stuff which works too. Might need a few apllications to seal it properly. At BB a rebuild starts at 3k i think or just try some engine specialists.

 

[DTWD]

Quote: Originally posted by coolspot007007 on 10 December 2002


If not such a serious water loss try Radweld or Halfords do a sandy looking stuff which works too. Might need a few apllications to seal it properly. At BB a rebuild starts at 3k i think or just try some engine specialists.

I said Radweld. Anyway mine was a pretty big leak. Emptied the hole damn lot out. It took 2 or 3 kettle fulls before it got near the limet line. But it fixed me up, but then again as you say, a valver is a different kettle of fish...or at least I assuime it would be.



Paul