Head gasket question

[99 Neon R/T]

Allright my grandmother has a 98 Caravan.Pretty basic 2.4 DOHC auto.Has 68000 miles and a blown head gasket.Since I am the only mechanically inclined person in my family I inherited the task of replacing it.I dont know much about the caravan and am wondering if there is anything else I should be looking forward in the near future.Also if having to replace the head gasket this early is telling me that it needs to be traded in or not.Any help or ideas will be very appreciated,shes 80 and still gets around alot and I just dont want her to get screwed or be putting alot into a money pit.Thanks

[1thunder]

make sure you know what getting into first as this is a fairly complex job and can cost alot of $$$ if valve timing is not set properly

[mrlong]

I have a 92 and had to replace the head gasket after it overheated. It cost me $1300 to fix. My engine apparently had a lot of this trouble as the head was aluminum and the block was iron so they expanded at different rates and it was bad when it overheated especially. Mine got really bad and I could hardly drive it. Really loud knock from No 1 cylinder and white smoke pouring out. After I had it done I changed the radiator and fan and it's run great ever since. Haven't overheated or added any water.

[99 Neon R/T]

Well it has been a coulpe of weeks and no problems with the van.Replacing the head gasket wasnt that big of an issue but what I really wanted to know is if this was a sign of things to come.Is this going to be a repeat performance or a 1 time deal.Like I said I dont want her spending 500 a month just to keep the thing on the road.

[aldovera]

Originally Posted by 99 Neon R/T

Well it has been a coulpe of weeks and no problems with the van.Replacing the head gasket wasnt that big of an issue but what I really wanted to know is if this was a sign of things to come.Is this going to be a repeat performance or a 1 time deal.Like I said I dont want her spending 500 a month just to keep the thing on the road.

Not questioning your ability, but all depends on how good a job you've done. If you had the head reconditioned (properly resurfaced) and you torqued it accordingly, you will have no problems. Blown headgaskests are not a common thing on the caravans.

[99 Neon R/T]

Yeah I took the head to a machine shop and it was about as perfect as it can get.I had them clean the mating surface and look at everything.Since the valve guide seals came with the kit I went ahead and had those replaced while they had it.Well I am glad to hear that no major problems are common on it I just wish it had a bigger engine the 2.4 is a little underpowered for that much weight.Thanks for the help.

[neon_rt]

It's probably too late now but, make sure you use new head bolts, the old ones are NOT reuseable. If you did reuse them, you will be doing the job again very soon. Also, replace the timing belt since you have it off already, that will save having to work on it again in 32,000 miles. If you do not change the timing belt at 100K miles, by about 110K miles you will be very sorry.