what to do with 1995 with head gasket problems

[nickg777]

I have a 1995 VS executive wagon. About 5 months ago it overheated. I took it to the garage and they confirmed the head gaskets had been affected. I did not want to spend the $2000plus on new gaskets so did a quick fix pluging the radiator as they suggested. I am now getting problems again - the car is juddering over 70km/h. I assume that this is the gasket problem as that is what happened before the last time the engine overheated.
I do not want to spend a lot more money on getting it fixed - so any ideas what I can do with it?

Wreckers or try to sell as is?

Would appreciate any advice from someone who has had to do this before.
I am not trying to sell it here as I know that would be against the rules, just want a little advice.
It is registered for a few more months and can be driven at the moment but a RWC would not be given.

Thanks

[EREXON]

What gasket is stuffed.

Im guesing a head gasket at that price.
If it is buy some chemi weld. It seals up the gasket, if it works then you can either sell as is or just drive it and see how it goes.

Im not suggesting you sell with a problem and not tell the buyer thats ur choice.

But normally chemi weld will seal it all back up. It should tell you how to use it on the back of the bottle, you normally just pour it into the motor or radiator and it does its job.

[nickg777]

Thanks,
Yes it is the head gaskets. The garage put in something like that to patch up the gaskets - this was the quick fix. They told me it was temporary.

Can I use this chemi weld again and do the same thing? Or is the temporary fix a once off?
I am leaving in 6 months so if I can keep it going for that long it would be good.

[EREXON]

Yeah throw in chemi weld and this will seal it, depending how bad it is. Iv seen people use it in their cars and its worked a treat.

If the stuff they put in is working ok now then see how it goes otherwise get some chemi weld and do it yourself.

[WhiteOx]

I wouldn't be using too much chemi weld.
chemi weld will block up more than your head gasket.

[mrhotdog]

it cost me $1500 when i got mine done about 7months ago, i suppose it depends on whether u have it/ think its worth the $$$, how many kms on it and condition?

[Andrew426]

I have heard of that chemi weld stuff doing more harm than good. Just my two cents.

[EREXON]

For a temp fix chemi welds fine.

[TUF UTE]

just make sure you dont have your heater tap open when you chemi weld lol

[jas98]

head gaskets cost about 60 bucks a pair (well where i am or 160 for a full gasket set). the rest is in machining and labour (providing they machine the heads) as i wouldn't think it would cost 2000 just to put 2 or even one new gasket one.

[EREXON]

Yeah but it is a big job thats why the big price tag.

As you said the actual part is cheap but the amount of work (LABOUR) - is what you pay for.

[VrWagz1]

If you only want it to last a few months you can try the chemiweld again. But its not good for the internals and you run the risk of blocking somthing up that shouldnt be blocked. But if it works once more then it will see you get where you need to go. It may be a cheaper option to put in a second hand running engine, as its possibly less work to do swap the engine then pull your old one to bits.

[jas98]

If you only want it to last a few months you can try the chemiweld again. But its not good for the internals and you run the risk of blocking somthing up that shouldnt be blocked. But if it works once more then it will see you get where you need to go. It may be a cheaper option to put in a second hand running engine, as its possibly less work to do swap the engine then pull your old one to bits.

yeh would be cheaper to get a secondhand lower k engine as you could pick them up very cheaply now. and seeing that the head gasket has gone...what else would go on it n the near future as i have herd that the head gaskets arnt very common to stuff up on these engines

[nickg777]

Thanks for the advice all very useful and very much appreciated.
I think that although the chemi weld might last me another 5 months I would prefer not to do any other damage and see if someone is interested in taking it. It seems like one of those things where if you know what you are doing the parts are relatively cheap so someone could get it fixed up and sell it on for a good profit?

[commomad]

Its not really that hard to replace head gaskets.
DO NOT USE CHEMWELD
Ill fix it for you if you lived close to the sunny coast

[Keeffe]

DO NOT CHEM WELD!

Dude it's only a push rod engine super simple to work on really. I knew of a mob that will rebuild an engine for 3500 complete in sydney.

Should take a current mechanic 6 hours and about 400 dollars worth of machining gaskets and ancillaries. That means the mechanic is charging 100 an hour if the price tag is 2000.

[greenfoam]

Alot of wrecking yards would be happy to install another engine for you for 1000 bucks, some young kid thats used to pulling them out will have it out and back together in a day. So that's an option if you aren't confidant to take the heads off

[nickg777]

I will check with the wreckers and try and get another quote off some garages.
I am in Townsville not sure if my location is effecting prices.

Cheers

[nickg777]

Thanks especially for the offer to fix it. Not sure it would make it from Tsville to Sunshine Coast.

[BeastVS]

Just drop a new engine in it. Wouldnt cost anywere near $2000, My mates VX had a blown gasket. We picked up a low K engine for about $500, We put it in our selves, But we asked our mechanic and he said he would have done it for $350.