Problem: Blown Headgasket

I know this is against the rules but I posted in the 92 + civic forum and nobody responded so I figured I was maybe in the wrong forum. Please don't roast me cause of this cause I really need some help. My original post was:

Well, it finally happened, I ragged this motor out until I blew a headgasket. Well I'm not exactly sure, a friend seen white smoke coming out my exhaust and asked me does it still have the same power. I said no and that it would bog out sometimes in the morning and it never used to do that. After the bogging out this big ass cloud of smoke would come out and then for the rest of the day I would see smoke here and there. It was fun while it lasted. I know it's not a total lost if I did blow it, so I am going to replace the headgasket, well a friend and myself. My question is, what steps would I need to take to change out the head gasket and to all the shop workers, how much am I looking at on just parts?

This is an idea of what I have to do:

Remove the head in it's entirety including timing belt, valve cover, head assortment, and the distributor. I'm not exactly sure but I have a few books that talks about these things. (haynes and some other book similar to it)

Another question is, is there anything I should remember or to lookout for while doing this so I don't totally fuk up the engine when I crank it over? Any hints or pointers would be appriecated. Thanks

FnkDrSpok

if you have the tools needed and the manuels like you say then it shouldn't be to bad. parts shouldn't be bad either headgasket anywhere from 40-70 bucks, possibly new timeing belt 50 bucks. maybe new head bolts? i'm not sure if they can be reused on hondas?

Just remember to be careful and not let anything fall into the combustion chamber when your trying to get the old head gasket off!

one thing you might want to check would be the head becuse you could have cracked the head look for small cracks it sounds like the same thing that happen to my friends trunk after we went mudding it had white smoke coming out the tailpipes so i would just check to make sure

ok, so after reading up in the books and reading the feedback from you guys, I was thinking, maybe this might not be the job of a mediocore car enthusiast. Now, if I paid a shop to do it, not the dealership but like a pretty good shop, how much do you think they would charge me? (including parts and labor fees) If it's under 200 I can afford it and it won't be going against my "get a gsr engine fund". Which by the way I'm accepting donations so if you wish to donate, drop me a pm and we can make paypal arrangements. ;)

But on a serious note, what do you think would be the best route?

FnkDrSpok

before i studied up on mechanics, my bro needed a new headgasket in his car, cost him 1500 bux.

but in a quick run-down of the steps:

disconnect hoses going to valve cover
remove valve cover and gasket(replace)
unbolt head studs(replace)
remove head and remove gasket
check for warpage on the head, if you cant do this properly take it to any machine shop.

slap on the new gasket and follow ^^^ directions in reverse.

before i studied up on mechanics, my bro needed a new headgasket in his car, cost him 1500 bux.

but in a quick run-down of the steps:

disconnect hoses going to valve cover
remove valve cover and gasket(replace)
unbolt head studs(replace)
remove head and remove gasket
check for warpage on the head, if you cant do this properly take it to any machine shop.

slap on the new gasket and follow ^^^ directions in reverse.

well, that sounded simple enough...a few questions tho, the head studs, can you get them from like Auto Zone, Advance Auto, etc or you can only get those from the dealer?

And two, why did his cost so much, is that what the shop charged him?

FnkDrSpok