I think my headgasket is gone.

88 crx hf with b16 swap


stupid question.

Is it possible to pull the head off without taking out the engine?

 

Yes, you can remove the head while the whole motor is still in the car. Drain the oil and the coolant. When you drain the coolant remove the drain plug from the radiator, but to drain all the coolant from the block you have to remove the bolt a few inches below and towards the passenger side of the #4 exhaust manifold. outlet.

In this pic look at the left most cylinder and look at that gold bolt on the front of the block in front of that cylinder. That is the block coolant drain bolt. Remove that to drain the rest of the coolant cause if you dont all the coolant will empty out into the cylinder when you remove the block.

 

I have never had this problem of coolant getting into the cylinders while removing the head. I just pull the rad plug and then pull the head.

 

I've had fluid leak into the cylinder and I've also read of other people having fluid leaking into the cylinder when they didn't remove the block drain plug. It's not like the plug is in a hard to reach spot or anything. Might as well drain the rest of the fluid by removing the block plug so you will know for sure that there will be no coolant getting into the cylinder.

 

You can get it out by taking the water pump off too, which you might want to replace since you are pulling the head/timing belt anyway.

 

I am going to help this guy out with this (since it sounds like his first time):

make sure to take the head bolts out much like you do your lug nuts, in an X style.

Also, make sure to clean the head and block surfaces very well and wipe down the cylinder walls if anything gets on it (oil is a very big possibilty).

OH yeah, make sure the car is at TDC before pulling the head. The first time I did this on my car (YEARS AGO) I took it off wherever it was, and it was a whole lot of fun resetting it to TDC.

Good luck with this, and make sure to have a manual with you at all times!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 88crxhfb16 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think my headgasket is gone.

88 crx hf with b16 swap


stupid question.

Is it possible to pull the head off without taking out the engine?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

This being your first time, I really do suggest getting a manual and reading all the steps prior to doing this. Then go through it step by step. Try to have room to put the parts you take off in order. The cams caps look very similar and it DOES matter the order they are installed onto the head again.

As far as draining the coolant, the suggestion of removing the plug out of the rad first, then draining that is correct. 2nd, then use the drain plug from the block.
Correct, you can normally pull the head off from the engine block without getting coolant into the cyl if that plug is not remove, but normally oil drips off the head back into the coolant.
On top of that, if you have blown a gasket, you want to change out all the coolant you can since it probably mixed.
By the way -this can make a mess. When the coolant comes out, it pours out, then it after than, as it runs down the block, it drips in a few different places. Make sure you have a big catch pan, and lay down some towels in about a 3x3' area so you don't get the coolant everywhere.

All other points people left are good, but also inspected the cyl walls for any cracks or any uneven wearing -maybe there is another problem than just the head gasket.

As far as the timing belt and water pump -good idea.

Make sure you have everything off the head that needs to come off before trying to pull it up. DON"T PRY the head off between the gasket surfaces (I have seen it done before). Make sure to get all the wiring removed, lines, and there are some bolts that people normally miss which hold the intake manifold to a black bracket, when then holds it to the block.

You may also want to take the head to a machine shop to have them inspect it for it being warped, unless you have a true bar to check yourself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've had fluid leak into the cylinder and I've also read of other people having fluid leaking into the cylinder when they didn't remove the block drain plug. It's not like the plug is in a hard to reach spot or anything. Might as well drain the rest of the fluid by removing the block plug so you will know for sure that there will be no coolant getting into the cylinder.</TD></TR></TABLE>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
good rule of thumb:DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmcars.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This being your first time, I really do suggest getting a manual and reading all the steps prior to doing this. .</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks I have a video on a complete rebuild b16. i'm going to check out pulling and reassembling the head parts of it before I even start.

thanks everyone

especially for not flaming me.

 

Where did you get the video from?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M15 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where did you get the video from?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think its the one that kteller.com sells, check them out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M15 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where did you get the video from?</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://motors.search.ebay.com/...otive

its kind of a cheap home made type video. but i like it. he actually films taking out every single bolt. He gives the proper torque patterns and specs, which is all I care about.