headgaskets
 

hi
just after checking my coolent and found oil in it
and was wondering if anybody had any advice
on changing the headgaskets :(
and where to get uprated gaskets
and is it possible that only 1 side is gone?

thanks
chris :wonder:

Yep possible that one side has gone, but working out which side will be fun :)

Is there defo oil in the coolant? not just sludge

Its likely that only one side has gone! For 2 head gaskets to fail at exactly the same time is uncommon. (saying that the other might be just away from a fail if they were both stressed) When oil goes into water it usually still looks like blobs of oil. Its hard to see in the scoob though since it doesnt have a nice big plastic header tank. When water goes into oil you get a kind of white frothy gunk.on most cars this forms under the oil filler cap. On the scoob though it wont since the oil isnt very pressurised at that hight. You would have to drop the oil. (see if it looks like guinness). Check the oil and see if the level is down or up!
A green gunk is common on the side of the plastic water level thingy in older scoobs. Its a combination of Lime scale, antifreeze thats broken down and the minerals that come out of the aluminium block when the anti freeze attacks it. Most of the antifreeze these days is better for ALY. Back in the day though they ate it away and there is still a tiny bit of that.

If doing one and it is all in bits do the other as well . Engine out job not to hard i did it using the scooby manual off here gives you step by step method and all torque settings or use API well known and very helpful, used standard head gaskets , got both heads skimmed as well just to be sure ,through new clutch in as well and had syncro changed on gear box while all out , just label every thing , take photos they help on assembly and clean everything .Mine went 2 years ago also change thermostat only couple of £ mine went causing head gasket failure , new cam belt and i also got new rocker cover seals including spark plugs and all bolt seals , head bolts re-used , i also changed crank seals front and back only a few quid and took valves out put new stem seals in and reseated valves , while it is all in bits might as well service other bits and replace cheap consumables . good luck .

hope this helps

Mark

Mark

http://www.saxonfields.freeserve.co.uk/

workshop manual for early cars

Mark

nice 1
thanks
looks like i have a whole heap of fun ahead of me !!!
trying to find the time will be the next big promlem
or maybe even paying for it all
:(

oh crap thats was well spelt
should have spelt promblem a bit better :D

by the way is changing the syncro a big deal
cos 3rd in mine is on its last legs

If you've got an engine crane, or can borrow one the lump is easy to get out, the gearbox protrudes right into the pay so its damn easy to un-bolt the bell housing, then you just have to un-bolt the exhaust from the back of the turbo and remove the inlet, rad/coolant hoses and unplug the loom.

Out she comes :D

There are several synchro gears on the box, if you've never re-built a gearbox then dont even contemplate starting with the impreza box.

Get a second hand box, they can be had for £50-100 these days.

Also try some manual gearbox treatment, worth a crack for the few quid it costs.

tried that treatment awhile back
made a bit a difference but not sure how much longer it will last

wouldnt even dream of opening the scooby box
but was just wondering if it was worth while getting it done
but doesnt seem to be when they can be got 2nd hand

sounds like a very simple job when you say it fast lol
but hopefully il get some access to a buddies garage with engine crane and
2 post ramp
and try talk my buddy into giving me a hand sometime soon

but at least its a good excuse to freshen things up a bit with new seals and stuff while its out

I used cosmic metal gaskets and also brought a head set from ebay as it was only £75 i used the head gaskets on another engine that i sold on ebay (made £750) and kept all the other gaskets for mine i was amazed on what gaskets you get even down to the oil cap seal i think its well worth the money but im not to sure on the quality of the head gaskets if your keeping the car. Oh and dont forget about the clutch pivit shaft if your removing the engine or box its behind the allen headed plug in the side.

thanks
ya got caught out with that last year when i
dropped the box to do a clutch change
took awhile to figure out what was holding it :wonder:

Ive just done all tat on my 1998 sti ra and am just putting it all back together heads are going back on tommorrow then engine back in next weekend if you take out clutch check release bearing will be worth changing that aswell if you get stuck give me a shout you might aswell benefit

nice 1 thanks :thumb:

hopefully the clutch will still be in good enough nick
i havent done huge milage since it was changed
as i only use the car at the weekends
cos i could do with out the cost of replacing more stuff :cry:

even if it looks like a great excuse while the engine is out
to go with new pistons and MORE POWER

where would be a good place to order head gaskets from
or would i just be better off with main dealer sti gaskets
will the sti v4 fit my94 wrx
will compression be affected much by skimming the heads
also while its out should i change the oil pump?

so so many questions :wonder:

need to do mine soon, i have been reccomended to stick to OEM ones as you know how good the parts are that you will be getting!

Ask for David.

www.apiengines.com

Rob

nice 1
thanks
:thumb: