Head Gasket Failure!

[TheStig]

Hey guys I guess it's going to be awhile before I see everyone at the autocrosses and there will be one less GS car out there. My 944 sprung a leak in the #4 cylinder and pressurized the cooling system to the point where it was pushing coolant out the reservoir I managed to pull the head on Sunday in 4 hours and sent it out the next day.

I just got my cylinder head back today from the machine shop with new guides and seals. Apparently the car had been overheated prior to my ownership (I NEVER try to push limits on my car to see how long the car will drive in the red) and the head was warped. A nice resurfacing put it back to spec and I should have it running by Saturday, sadly not in time for the autocrosses

Good news is EVERYTHING has now been replaced in the cooling system and I have a shiny new intake manifold and valve cover to go on it!

Anyways here's the pix of the block. Hope you enjoy.. I'm still about it

Hope to see everyone again soon!

[Jad]

Pretty cam cover and by the way, 4 hours for the head removal is a nice time

Just be careful with the belts when you put it all back....

Good luck!

[TheStig]

The belts is what's really creeping me out. A friend is coming over to help me time the car and is going to show me how to do it....which at the same time will be the first time I will ever do this. Hence I'm creeped out

[Dan Chambers]

Oh the humanity! I just completed the same procedure::bigcry:
- New head gasket
- New valves
- New guides, seals
- Machining of head and valve seats (sp?)
- Machining of cam housing (couldn't get good seal to head .... gouges in cam housing..... )

5 weeks, lots of $$, and a very lonely garage.

I feel for you, 944 brother. I'm glad you can do a lot of the work yourself. I'm sure that it will save you time and $$. Good on ya!

When you do the belts, be sure the engine is in "true" TDC for the balance shafts, otherwise, a very annoying vibration at all speeds. (Like my old days adjusting valves on the VW's, I check my TDC position twice before, and at least one time after each procedure or turn of the engine to be sure I got it right. It only takes a second to double check TDC, and will save a world of frustration....)

Nice red cam housing, dude. Mine is unpainted.

[JamesWilson]

Nice, Andy.

Put a new transmission in my 931 yesterday, everything was great until the ignition cut out again.

Car is For Sale now, $2250.00 firm with full suspension and new (less than 3 runs as you know) V710's.

-JamesW
jamesnwilson@hotmail.com

[TheStig]

Got it working and finished! (as some of you probably saw at the autocrosses) I didn't run on Saturday, nor did I come Sunday. I'll probably be at the "other car" autocross in December most likely after I break the valve seats and guides in on this rebuilt head.

[JamesWilson]

Sorry for the thread hijack, car is SOLD Now I need codrive options, I do have 2 (two) new sticker unmounted Kumho V710's in 225/50-15 if someone wants to work out a codrive for the next autocross/DE (unless this buyer wants the tires)....

[Tim Comeau]

Now let's put a reliable 944 spec car under you, James. With big Dave Turner graphics!

[TheStig]

Hey Tim, I did my best to talk him into it... it's all up to you now

[JamesWilson]

I'm in the hole a lot of $$ on the 924 Turbo, I let it go for too little $$. We'll see what we can afford after tax season, and look into it from there. Until then, I'll be bumming codrives and rentals to keep me sharp

[Tim Comeau]

Understood. That 931 was a money pit anyway.

[harnishclan]

Hey Tim! You are calling my new car a money pit!!!

[JamesWilson]

Not a money pit, I just spent a lot of good money on shocks, springs, bushings, custom exhaust, new transmission, race tires, and engine tuning all in a very short amount of time.....especially with my racing budget as tight as it is normally, it was a lot of money to spend at once on a car.....but it sure was fast when it ran