Well i finished putting the Civic together tonight. Quick backround...It blew the ring lands on the pistons and we completely built the motor. Lacking a good torque wrench we took the motor out and brought it to a local shop (pacific performance) to have the block bored and assemble the bottom end and put the head on. I did everything else.

I got everything together and all the fluids filled. Tried to fill the water and it was dripping out of the plenum. I took it off to see what was wrong (thought i over tightened the nuts and bolts). Well i get it off and notice there was a piece of leftover gasket stuck to the plenum. Dumb mistake... i used a putty knife to take all the material off of the head but never thought to look at the plenum in my hurry to get it done (this is my best friends daily driver and he needs the car). Put the new intake gasket on and were ready to rock. I pull the plug wires, disconnect the fuel system, crank it over a few times to get oil pressure and then reconnect everything. Well i cross my fingers and go to start it, car starts but it sounds really bad. Stumbling and hardly staying alive. My roomate yells for me to stop. I turn it off and he says its shooting oil out of the head. GREAT. I backtrack everything ive done and cant think of what it can be. I pull the intake plenum off AGAIN and ask him to crank it. Low and behold, oil is shooting out from between the head and block. Only thing it can be is the head gasket, the shop mustve put it on wrong! I just fall back and realize ALL of my work has gone to **** for their stupid mistake. Ive been putting the engine back in since Friday night at a leisurely pace. I took my time, got ever wire exactly how it was stock, everything shined up and looking perfect.

I'm heading over there first thing in the morning to give them a piece of my mind. I cant believe this has happened. This is why you CANNOT trust shops to do any work properly. I shouldve bought a good torque wrench and did it my damned self. We are talking about guys who have a mid 9 second Honda, all drive turbo Hondas and have been in business since 95!!! They cant put a head gasket on properly?! I know we all make mistakes but damn, i only hope they stand behind their work and do the right thing.

I'M SUPER PISSED and had to vent....

Meanwhile my personal car is still neglected.......

 

bah that sucks
i dont trust shops anymore. only for advice. wich i take with a grain of salt.
if they are as reputable as you say they should fix the problem ASAP. should onlt take an hour or so.
good luck

 

Well we went there this morning and they are paying to have it towed over and fixed for free. We didnt even have to ask for that, they offered before we had the chance which is great customer service if you ask me. They said the car should be done by tonight. We shall see....