domestic_rice

Well first of all how hard would it be to do it myself? And since I don't want to screw something up how much would it be to have someone do it? My civic hatch's hg is leaking. It has a d16 mini-me swap.

PRcivicHB

Its not that hard to do... Get your hands on a helms, and follow the instructions on how to remove your head with the motor still in the car...

JDMlyfestyle

ive done 4 local jobs on headgaskets charged the guys $250 and that includes the head check and machine work.

domestic_rice

I've been hearing differen't thing from people. Some say to just unhook basically everything, take off the 10 head stud bolts and then just lift the head off, replace with the new one and then put it all back on.

Other people say to unhook everything, make sure its at TDC, take out all of the valves, lifters, push rods and everything and then take the head off, replace and then put the head and everything back on.

On my mustang I just took the valve covers off, unbolted the head studs in reverse tightening order took the head off and then just put the head and valve cover back on. If I don't need to take about the head I'll do it myself but if I have to Im going to pay someone to do it since I don't really know **** about 4 bangers.

I found a very good write up of doing a mini me though I didn't do it, it makes me think I can just take the head off. Its a good link even though its a bit off subject.
http://www.jdmuniverse.com/for...age=1

domestic_rice

oh yea, I didn't mean exactly how to do it. I just wanted to know about what to do with the head. Since its my daily driver to school and work.

PRcivicHB

I would resurface the head... but you basically could follow a mini me write up...

JDMlyfestyle

take off the head and take it to a machine shop to see if the head is straight. and if it needs resurfaced then resurface it.

PRcivicHB

I got this from this link https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=554053

Here are the step by step instructions on how to take your head off (Taken from helms. I recommend you have the actual manual in front of you because it includes detailed pictures and diagrams):
1. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.
2. Drain the coolant.
3. Relieve fuel pressure (take the gas cap off)
4. Remove the air flow tube (intake)
5. Remove the fuel feed hose and charcoal canister hose from the intake manifold.
6. Remove the throttle cable at the throttle body.
7. Remove the throttle control cable from the throttle body (A/T only).
8. Remove the fuel return hose and brake booster vacuum hose.
9. Remove the engine wire harness connectors and wire harness clamps from the cylinder head and intake manifold (Basically any hose or plug that’s connected to the intake manifold or head, needs to come off)
10. Disconnect spark plug wires at spark plugs and remove them from the distributor.
11. Remove the engine ground cable on the cylinder head cover.
12. Remove the power steering belt and pump (Do NOT disconnect the hoses)
13. Remove the power steering bracket (4 bolts)
14. Remove the emission vacuum hoses and water bypass hoses from intake manifold assembly (included in step 9)
15. Remove the radiator upper hose and heater hose from the cylinder head (included in step 9)
16. Remove the water bypass hose from the thermostat housing.
17. Remove the intake manifold bracket.
18. Remove the self locking nuts and disconnect the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe A.
19. Remove the exhaust manifold bracket.
20. Remove the PCV hose, then remove the cylinder head cover.
21. Remove the timing belt upper cover.
22. Loosen the timing belt adjusting bolt 180 degrees to release the belt tension.
23. Push the tensioner to release tension from the timing belt, then retighten the adjusting bolt.
24. Remove the belt from the cam pulley (gear)
25. Remove the cylinder head bolts, then remove the cylinder head (loosen bolts starting from the outside, then coming in).

PRcivicHB

And do what JDMlyfestyle said as well, if it warped then it defeats the purpose of changing the head gasket