Blown headgasket-desperate help!

[It is a car!]

This needy family needs your help.
They have a 1990 Cressida with a blown head gasket.
The guy paid around $2,200 for this family car not long ago with 140k miles and now he doesn't know what to do.
He has a low paying job and little money to spare.
I got a call asking for help/advice since I am the grease-inclined monkey in the family- but no head gasket experience.
not sure how I could help from here / Michigan.
Any experience/lead/info/advice to help this poor guy? (he is in Santa Ana, CA)

[lwmcleod03]

your best bet would be to get a HKS metal Head gasket with a thickness of 1.8mm, and if it is just a family driver and not getting flogged you shouldnt have any problems with it afterwards

[madflea]

Originally Posted by It is a car!

This needy family needs your help.
They have a 1990 Cressida with a blown head gasket.
The guy paid around $2,200 for this family car not long ago with 140k miles and now he doesn't know what to do.
He has a low paying job and little money to spare.
I got a call asking for help/advice since I am the grease-inclined monkey in the family- but no head gasket experience.
not sure how I could help from here / Michigan.
Any experience/lead/info/advice to help this poor guy? (he is in Santa Ana, CA)

I just had a BHG on my 91 cress, it should not be that hard to replace gasket which I thought would be kinda hard, but the funny thing is afterwards, I posted a message already, I CAN'T get it to START, it will only crank, check everything...

took three brains here, still can't figure out, maybe you guys can give some tips.

[lisamac]

What size Engine, 5M-GE or 7M
Do u have spark at end of plug wire
Try sticking a long screwdriver to the Injectors and listen for a clicking while someone is cranking it over

[rhandwor]

The big question is did you install your timing belt properly? Some of these are a dual overhead cam and if it wasn't installed properly you probably bent 24 valves. Or if only one side was installed wrong 12valves. If you didn't line it up stop. Pull the valve cover and use a feeler gage between the cam and top of the valve over .060 probably bent.
At this point remove and take to machine shop.

[kmarajh]

Sorry buddy but you are terribly mistaken, the 7M engines are free revving. Broken belts will only disable the engine, not ruin it like Nissans or Hondas.
I've blown a timing belt on a Friday and was back to driving by mid day Saturday.
To the original post, check to make sure the distributor is not 180 degrees off. I had the same problem after doing my belt. Turn the engine to top dead center and take the dist cap off. Rotor should be pointing to the #1 plug terminal.
89 Cressida.