blown headgasket, anything i should do while im down there?

[PaRaDoX]

hey guys,

i blew my headgasket probbly a while ago just been too lazy to change it as its not majourly bad.. just been leaking oil into the radiator, and its getting worse now... cooking the coolant etc

anyway.. ive got a set of spare heads in my garage off a s1 vn that had done 160,000km (mines done 280,000km)

so i figure i mayaswell slap them on as mine have taken a pounding
but before i do im going to port and polish them (not majourly just enough to flow better)

is there anything else i should do when im down that far into the engine???
i mean like maintence things.. that dont cost lots

also should i replace the valvestem seals while i have the heads off the car and how much do they cost???

[AirStrike]

Dont lower the comp while its N/A will run like a slug. While apart what you do, depends on your coin. If it were me I would get some hardened pushrods, roller rockers, springs that can take a high seat pressure, collets, etc.
No coin, a quick going over with the dremel and check the valves, etc for wear.
AirStrike

[PaRaDoX]

yeah coin is tight... pushrods/rockers can be done while the heads are still on the car and very easily... i ment while the heads are off, i wanna do valve springs but my budget is tight...

last time i checked a set of new valve springs was like $220??? am i correct or can you get them for cheaper if so where from???

[AirStrike]

Also while you have the heads off crank the engine over by hand and check the condition of the pistons and what you can see of the rings.
AirStrike

[AirStrike]

yeah coin is tight... pushrods/rockers can be done while the heads are still on the car and very easily... i ment while the heads are off, i wanna do valve springs but my budget is tight...

last time i checked a set of new valve springs was like $220??? am i correct or can you get them for cheaper if so where from???

$220!!! Try pricing Isky ones to suit a 5.0lt
AirStrike

[PaRaDoX]

lol... i think thats why they released the 5 banger, for people who are too good for a 4 banger and too cheap for a v6 :P

anyway cheers ill do that

[xcop5l]

im getting crane valve springs for $99 for a 5ltr dont no how much for v6

[PaRaDoX]

yeah been talking to like he got his crow springs for like $60 so ill do them when i do the heads...

[xcop5l]

if you want proformance parts theres a good place in geelong for them, johnny dyno's engines (52785753)
gets all sorts of proformance stuff

[PaRaDoX]

thanks mate, what else can i do for performance to my heads while they're out

also heres some pics (i got the heads outta the garage)

the carbon just has slight scratches in it the metal isnt penetrated
the valves are good and not cracked aswell

[xcop5l]

get em re surfaced and crack tested. just in case

[greenfoam]

Luke got some springs for his V6 that spin 6000rpm ++ for 60 bucks I believe, they are pretty cheap unless you are going for some that can deal with a huge cam and 8000 revs

[Shortstuff]

Have a look at this thread. It's got some suggestions in it that may be helpful.

I've made some custard, now it's time for a headjob!

[PaRaDoX]

foam, what actaull determines what the engine can handel in terms of RPM, i know cam shaft does but what else?? valve springs

luke got crow valve springs, would they give better feeling when i hit the redline insted of bascially shaking the car to peices???

[xcop5l]

the first thing you want to do is stop valve bounce

[PaRaDoX]

it only valve bounces on a stock tune, its a auto and sometimes if its going on a slight decline under full throttle it will valve bounce and sometimes on a flat/uphill... revlimiter set to 6000 dosnt do it and dosnt hold between 5500-600 0 for very long just uses it for heatroom to shift...

read through that post... hes putting money into some things that dont need to be done

i need to drain my oil before opening it up obviously, what should i replace it with??? and ill do oil filter while im at it

[greenfoam]

The cam doesn't change what it can handle it just changes at what time the valves open and close and how long for. The timing of the valves in relation to the tuning pulses in the exhaust and inlet determin where the car will make peak power. The inlet and exhaust having more influence than the cam but the cam ties it all together.

But the gforces on the rods and pistons and rings and crank are massive at high rpm and those parts are what limit you from doing huge revs without breaking. You can also destroy all the parts in the valve train pretty fast if the springs aren't holding the lifters on the cam. Other things in the engines design make it easier for a engine to safely make more revs, lighter parts (less gforces) less stroke (less gforces), Overhead cam (less parts and lighter), rotary (no valves "really light", no piston, no rods, no real crank=good)

[PaRaDoX]

thanks foam!

does anyone know prices on valve stem seals???
and is there anything else i should do???

[xcop5l]

most vrs kits come with them, but im not sure about the vn v6 ones

[PaRaDoX]

too late... i think my engine is going pop....got half way to tafe and it stalled 40 times trying to get it back home