How much work involved in a Head Gasket?

[silver_saxo]

I was looking at a 205 Gti 1.9 but the head gasket has gone.

Would this be hard to fix or expensive? I would be doing it myself.

[Karl]

couple of hundred quid at a garage i believe..

[silver_saxo]

how about fitting it yourself? is that a massive pain of fairly easy?

[mick2404]

Give yourself a day to do it. Make sure you torque the head bolts properly when putting it back together, and check them again after 500 miles.

As the whole thing isn't strung with electrics, and it's a single cam you shouldn't have that much of a worry.

[silver_saxo]

So would it be worth buying this 205 gti then if its a minter apart from this?

[mick2404]

I would have said so....

As an example, head gasket change on my mini took me about 2 1/2 hours.

It's really a case of following instructions from a haynes manual.

Also when the head's off, do yourself a favour and get it skimmed.

It shouldn't cost you more than about 40 quid, and it'd be WELL worth it...

Good luck if you go for it.. :)

[Ste]

You'll need to replace the oil & rad water aswell IRC

[mick2404]

You'll need to replace the oil & rad water aswell IRC

Yeah, thankfully not a big job, also, if you can get your hands on some, radiator flush (which you should be able to get at any motor factors) would be a VERY good idea if you've had oil/water mixture.

Might as well do an oil filter change while your on.. lol :)

[silver_saxo]

i'm very tempted! sounds like a good project!

[mick2404]

Also, should have mentioned, with the 1.9 gti, you can get a head gasket kit that comes with new head bolts/studs.

Make sure you get that one as part of the problem with them blowing head gaskets are stretched studs.

[williamsvts]

thats becasue the bolts are designed to stretch, hence them being called stretch bolts.

[mick2404]

thats becasue the bolts are designed to stretch, hence them being called stretch bolts.

lol.. particularly observant.. :)

Obviously it's just a case of keeping the engine serviced and well maintained to reduce head gasket failure...

[VTS_16v_Boy]

Hmmm Id want the head skimmed but you can remove the head and have that done else where.

Thats the only thing that would put me off doing a head gaskett really.

Somepeople may say not to bother but I wouldnt be happy unless the head had been skimmed.

[Ste]

Get a metal ruler and rest it on its side from corner to corner of the head..

X <Like that

Shine a light behind it and, If theres a gap you can see light coming through then it needs skimming if not then dont bother...

[Danhunt]

yeh was gona say make sure to check if the head needed skimming, mine went 200miles back.
400quid gone :(
haha but if you can do it yourself its cheap.

[D34no]

i did mine in just over an hour with me m8, peice of piss. may take a couple of hours if u have never done one though!