Replacing Blown head gasket

[marklar88]

Has anyone repaired a blown head gasket on a 3sgte?? I think that I am going to have to do mine.I have all the necessary equipment I think, but I am not very familiar with mechanics, do you really need to know what you are doing, or is it fairly straight forward???

[91 Celica St]

a little bit of both, if all your doing is repolacing the headgasket, youll need a new Hg, new head studs, new timing belt, and a new timing cover gasket

theres alot to it like the timing cover taking note of where the timing is and making marks, replacing the cams back right, tourquing everythjing down perfectly... go down and buy a chiltons manual for your celica...itll have pictures and everything and its pretty hepful, it should be enoguh to guide you through it

if you have any problems you could come on here and ask questions, im usually on at night before i goto bed or when im on lunch

[marklar88]

Well I already have the chiltons manual... Do I still need to replace the timing belt even though it was done only 15000 kms ago??? Also, when I replace everything I want to run a bit more boost (I have an adjustable wastegate), so are there other internals that I can do without too much trouble and that dont cost an arm and a leg??? Thirdly, I purchased some rad and overflow caps from the local parts supplier and they say 13 lbs on them, is this enough for the 3sgte, or do I need toyota caps?? Thanks in advance, trev

[marklar88]

Well I already have the chiltons manual... Do I still need to replace the timing belt even though it was done only 15000 kms ago??? Also, when I replace everything I want to run a bit more boost (I have an adjustable wastegate), so are there other internals that I can do without too much trouble and that dont cost an arm and a leg??? Thirdly, I purchased some rad and overflow caps from the local parts supplier and they say 13 lbs on them, is this enough for the 3sgte, or do I need toyota caps?? Thanks in advance, trev

[91 Celica St]

look for a metal headgasket, itll allow you to hold more boost withought blowing yoru new one...if you pull the vac line htat runs to your vsv you can boost to 15psi, otherwise you can only do it to 12

[marklar88]

the vaccuum line that runs to the vsv is right beside a vaccuum line that goes into the turbo where I am supposed to hook up my boost controller, is it not?? Also, do you know where I can find a good deal on a head gasket?? I live in canada, I dont know if that makes a big diff?

[lilcoatman]

i am going through the process of doing the head gasket took me all day to do it right but its not really hard just have the right tools and know the parts your taking off keep track of what you unplug or unbolt chalk and scotch tape is your best friend trust me . but before you know it youll be done oh and dont crack your head if ya do better look into a new engine or spend at least 300 on a new one or have a shop do it for like a 1000$ just be careful ok.

[marklar88]

What kind of mods can I do to enhance performance while I have the head apart that will give me a good bangformybuck??. I am on a very limited budget, 1000$ Including paying for a new head gasket.

[91 Celica St]

cams, they will be ur best friend , get a set of 264 int, and exh...theat way you wont have to re do the ecu and youll gain a fair amoutn of power, also a set of cam gears

any leftover money you should look into stornger set of valve springs and a way to raise the stock rev limiter

[marklar88]

Well I am going to take a different direction with this car. I am going to take the insurance off of it, modify the engine meanwhile replacing everything. Interior and exterior. In 20 years this car is gonna make me some money, in the meanwhile it will do as my summer car.