Parts Required to Change a Head?

[dirtbiker]

I'm going to be changing the head on my 1.4 engine (AEX) after my little cambelt misshap and I'm just wondering what parts I'm going to need to buy... So far I've thought of:

• Head Gasket
• Cylinder Head Bolts
• Engine Oil and Filter
• Antifreeze
• Auxillary Drive Belt
• Timing Belt and Tensioner
• Inlet manifold gasket
• Exhaust manifold gasket
• Rocker cover gasket
• Water pump

Anything I've missed/is worth doing while the car's in bits!

Also I'm sure this has already been asked but where's the best place to get parts like these?

Edit: It's probably worth mentioning that the head bolts use a "Triple Square" head and you'll need the correct driver for this: 16mm (mine came from Halfords)

 

[F2 Ed]

inlet manifold gasket

exhaust manifold gasket

 

[F2 Ed]

rocker cover gasket

 

[dirtbiker]

Cheers, for that, I really should have remembered those!

 

[F2 Ed]

tbh if i had the head off i'd do a bit of porting while i was there

you only need a dremmel tool

 

[myseatcupra]

valve stem seals is worth doing when you got the head off. you need a compresion tool to do it mind. dont want your car burning oil, is the water pump driven off the cam belt its worth changing that if it is.

 

[AlpineWhite]

I think the water pump is driven off the cam belt. Definitely worth changing while you're there.

 

[myseatcupra]

ive always use gsf or eurocarparts but you do have to watch that the dim wit dont give you the wrong bits

 

[myseatcupra]

here's one more thing Swarfega for your little pinkys

 

[dirtbiker]

Thanks for all the help guys. One other thing, how important is it to change the oil when changing the head? I last did it in Janurary and I've only done a couple of thousand miles since then...

Also Eurocarparts has lots of options for auxillary drivebelts but none that look right:

Which one do I need (my car has PAS but no AC)?

Another thing, Eurocarparts are out of stock on the inlet manifold gasket and GSF don't seem to have one for my car, any ideas where I might be able to source one?

 

[myseatcupra]

i would change the oil any way. you dont no what crap is guna find its way down your oil ports. and antifreeze in the oil cant do it much good. change the head and then run it up to temp then change the oil. thats what id do

and your other point alot of the options on ecp will just better quality stuff i would think gsf do the same.
and looking at that list none are right for your car.

stealer is the easyest place. thats what i do. or phone round motor factors

 

[dirtbiker]

The thing is that there won't be any antifreeze in the oil because the head gasket is still intact (it was just the teeth being stripped off the cambelt). I guess I might as well change the oil anyway...

Another thing my uncle suggested is that, because the cambelt failed at idle, the valves might not be damaged. Would it be worth changing the cambelt over and seeing if it'll start to save all the faff with changing over the head or is this more likely to do further damage if the valves are bent?

Also: is this likely to be worth buying over the seperate gaskets?

Sorry for all the questions and all help is much appreciated!

 

[myseatcupra]

sorry yeah cam belt not headgasket...i would still change the oil but thats me.
problem is you dont no what gone on inside. you can try turning things over by hand with a new belt fitted. and see if it all moves freely you might be ok. but you might of bent a valve. then if you start it up your going having to start again. and more cost.

 

[dirtbiker]

I suppose the key problem would be if the new cambelt was to strip its teeth or snap when trying to turn it over. Probably best just to bite the bullet and buy all the gaskets etc. in the long run I reckon...

Shame the car's not worth more otherwise I'd be a lot more happy spending all this money on it! Ah well, luck of the draw I guess...

 

[myseatcupra]

there is that. best case it runs fine worst case it goes up in a big pile of smoke.
its swiings and roundabouts. cost of new car vs cost of repairing.

 

[dirtbiker]

I decided to do it "properly" in the end and bought all new gaskets etc.

Today I've finished swapping the heads (massive thanks to mOrk for sorting me out with a replacement!) but I've got the following problems:

One of the exhaust manifold studs is missing, where can I get a new one from and how are they fitted?

I can't get the timing belt tensioner off because the stud seems too long so the tensioner hits the inner wing before it can be removed. How can I get it off to replace it?

I can't get the waterpump to come away from the block. I've removed the bolts and tried pulling it and levering it off but with no success so far, any ideas?

Thanks everybody!

 

[myseatcupra]

dealers or any good motorfactors should sell studs. they just screw in by hand the give them a nip. with some mole grips. or you can lock 2 nuts off to bolt it down..
you might have to drop the engine a bit to get the bolt out. or get some sort of leaver to push the engine over. t
he water pump will be stuck on with rust sealant and stuff. so just give it a knock with a soft faced hammer it will come off. if you replacing it just batter it to hell.

 

[dirtbiker]

Cheers for that advice, will give it a go tomorrow!

Does the water pump need sealant to fit a replacement?

 

[myseatcupra]

ive always used sealant to fit water components. get them from halford or anything like that

 

[dirtbiker]

Right, managed to get the water pump out (with the help of a hammer and cold-chisel) and I'll pick up some sealant later today.

Also managed to move one of the manifold studs from the old head to the new one so that problem's sorted.

I still can't get the timing-belt tensioner off (despite cutting a bit off the end of the stud and trying to rock the engine over!). I've noticed on the other engine that I've got that the tensioner is mounted using a bolt rather than a stud and a nut so I'm wondering whether it'd be possible to remove the stud (using the two-nut method) and use the bolt in it's place? Otherwise I'm a bit stumped!

Cheers for all the help!