f1sh4u

I know this is a scooby forum, but i have been offered the possibility of a Fiesta Si 1.6 Zetec for free, the only prob is that it need the head gasket replacing.

I was thinking of attempting this my self, but i wondered if any of you had any experience of this procedure, and if so could you offer me any words of advice.

As the car is for free i was considering it as a project which i could learn a little about the inner working of an engine with. Tools and time are not a problem, unless there is a need for some specialist equipment?

Any advice would be great, or links to information on this procedure.

Thanks

scoobyvirgin

Well judging by responses I'd not bother!! To be honest though, I think the job can be a real pain in the **** to someone with little/no experience. Don't get me wrong as I've had my Evo's engine in bits several times and i'm not exactly qualified! She does however run like a dream now

I will however take the said Fiesta off your hands though as I too have lots of spare time!

richie rich

If I was you id find a ford forum, and print of the procedure, as it would have been done somewhere, possibly in there project section!
Good luck, when your done you can come and do mine.

brickboy

All the Zetec motors (1.6, 1.8, 2.0) are basically the same so if you can get a Haynes manual for Fiesta, Escort or Mondeo it'll tell you how to do it.

Cambelt engine so you don't have to worry about losing the camchain in the crankcase, but re-timing the cams might be tricky.

Can't think there would be anything too tricky about the job, if you've got a decent torque wrench and a degree disc to re-torque it right. Any engine specialist should be able to check the head is flat, and skim it if it isn't.

class_A

Try http://www.zsoc.com as I think the Zetec-S uses the same basic engine. Or http://www.ukfiestanetwork.com You obviously need to find out what caused the gasket to fail in the first place.

f1sh4u

OK, thanks guys for the responses.

I was wondering if a Haynes manual would cover the procedure, if it does then i think that will be my best bet.

Scoob+Bike=Fun

Shouldnt be a real prob, there will be a haynes manual for it, and you shouldnt need much in the way of specialist tools. If it costs you 100 in tools and parts, it is still a very cheap car!

john_s

iTrader: (1)

I'd go for it for a freebie if I were you.

It's not a massively difficult job. As above, easy enough from a Haynes manual. I've had a mondeo zetec head off a couple of times.

Think you need a special tool to lock the cams as part of the removal / refitting procedure. A "just happened to be the right size" piece of steel angle worked very well.

Oh, and I think there's another special tool needed to help get the pulleys off the end of the cam shaft. That was fabricated from a few bolts and some 3 x 25mm steel plate.

Usually recommended to replace the head bolts once you've had them off. Stick a new cam belt on while you're at it.

HTH,

John.

f1sh4u

Thanks for the advice, i have got a tool for pulling pulleys off, so that should be ok, also got a decent torque wrench, and have loads of steel angle lying around, so it sounds like i have all the "specialist" tools i need.

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Let us know how you get on.

John.