1994 Grand Am headgasket issues

[skywalker45]

Hello to all. My mom has a '94 Grand Am, like new condition with only 98,000 miles. Problem is it has the Quad 4 engine for that year. It has a leaky head gasket that needs replaced. No one wants to do it and the ones that want to want to charge an arm and a leg and another leg Anyway, I'm thinking about giving it a shot myself. Has anyone here ever done it? Would a good tech manual help me? What in the heck am I getting myself into? Thanks in advance for all the replies.

[taillight]

Well yes you can do it. Get a manual(Haynes). Follow the directions like it says. If you don't understand something, just ask. Do you have tools available ?

[skywalker45]

I have some tools and access to a torque wrench. When I say tools I mean I have wrenches both metric and standard and sockets but sadly no metric ones. What sort of tools do you think I would need? I can get the Haynes manual with no problem. Thanks for the reply.

[xeroinfinity]

Totally doable, as long as you get a manual with all the torq specs and proceedures.
Being a novice, it could take up to a weekend(2 days) to complete.

A (good) torq wrench is a MUST !
Also taking before pics can aide you when hooking every thing back up.

[taillight]

You will need metric sockets. And when they say to clean off the old gasket make sure you clean off all of the old gasket. You can get manuals at a book store or on line.

[grandgt01]

if you havent done anything to this level when it comes to fixing something you might want to set a couple days buy for yourself to do this project!!

[skibum1111]

Allow a week. Plain and simple. Once you have the head off have it pressure tested by a machine shop. If the head is cracked and you put it back together again its going to leak. A good machine shop should have the head back to you the next day, and most shops don't work on the weekends. Also most parts stores have the head gasket kit, just make sure it has all the gaskets you need before you order it. Also, replace the timing chain while you are in there, you have to take it off anyway. Probably the water pump as well, its very easy to get at once the top of the motor is apart. Good luck, as stated above don't be afraid to ask questions. A few of us here have done them.

[xeroinfinity]

Yeah you are probly closer on the time it'll take skibum.

I just did that 95 Quad I had, took me 5.5 hrs.
2hrs to tear down, 3.2 to put back together and the last of the time was getting it tuned up and fluids added.

But you could say I've done one or two of these over the years

taking your time is best when new to engine work/building

[skywalker45]

Thanks for all the advice and confidence people. I probably won't be starting this job for about a month or so. A time really hasn't been set. I have to get the parts and then put mom's car out of commission for a few days. But I'll post with questions if I have them and I'll take lots of pictures and perhaps post them here when I'm finished.

[neko_the_lead_foot]

your gona want to change your timing belt if you change your headgasket it is sugested that you change them every 50,000 miles