i think i have a blown head gasket on my d15b2, so im gonna change the gasket tomorrow. how can i tell if the head or block is warped without going to a machine shop?

 

I'm not sure, but I'm pretty certain somethin got f'ed up on mine back in the day.
One of my spark plug wires wouldn't sit down all the way + it was runnin hot sometimes, and the timing was advanced all the way etc....never blew, but got the boot out of the engine bay.

Anyways if you gotta replace it, I'd take it to mach. shop just to check to be sure. Since it will already be off.

 

yeah but that costs money

 

You have to use a machined straight edge. Lay it across the head (there's 5 different angles you measure- using a feeler gauge) If 1 side of it can fit a BIG feller gauge and the other side can't, it's warped. Basically, that's all a Machine shop would do.

 

like he said- use a file to lay across the head (they're the flattest thing you're gonna get without paying for gage quality) and slide a feeler gage under it. most heads allow .002" flatness tolerance. if it IS warped, you're going to need to have it machined flat anyway. they'll either run it across a rotary broach or just put it on a big sanding table (like a belt sander mounted upside down- about 18" wide and 3' long) and grind it flat. if it's not flattened before you reinstall it, it'll never seal right and your engine wont' run for ****. odds are if you DO have a blown head gasket, the head will be warped. just save yourself some headache and have it machined. most shops get ~$30 to do a head. If you are willing to have it apart for a while, ship it to Adam at Pro Engines (540-381-7898) and he'll machine it and do a 3 angle valve job for ~$100. (for a 16 valve head) less for an 8 valve head.