hi all,
can the head gaskets be replaced with engine still in the car?? have got a h/g problem but am completely skint and cannot afford the 700+ figure needed to replace,whereas gasket set is around the 60-70 mark rest is labour, could prob do myslef as not a complete idiot with the spanners but don't fancy the idea of having to remove engine to do it, or anyone out there in coventry area fancy giving me a hand to do it

damian.

 

Engine has to come out completely unfortunately. And ther's no possible way of changing the HG's in the car.

 

as above engine out! if as you say your not to bad with the spanners then cant you get a engine crane to lift the engine out and do it yourself, that way it will only cost you the price of a decent set of gaskets, and you get a bit of satisfaction doing it yourself.

 

i paid 500 qiud to have mine done thats with a service, in the north east good guy if your anywere near.

 

thanks for replys
yeah i think i could do the job but the idea of removing everything to get the engine out is what spooks me, how big and hard a job is it to lift engine out??

damian.

 

its easy to take/lift the engine out as long as you have some decent tools and and engine crane, to do the lifting.

 

i have heard of people who have done it in place but why you would want to do it is a mystery. I could take the engine out and do it quicker than i could if I let it in place

 

You can do it with the engine in, I have changed heads (both sides) while the engine is in. If you are changing one head it's a bit quicker to leave the engine in. But as everyone is saying, much easier to take the engine out to do both. If you have the time but don't have facilities to take it out then you could leave it in. You can undo the engine mounts and jack it up a bit to get better access. It's a back breaker leaving it in though!

 

NOw that's one way i wouldn't want to do this, the back pain