Blown Head Gasket

1. BenSilverSaxo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2006 Keighley, West Yorkshire & Coventry Posts: 3416 Lupo gti

   #1 11th August 2007, 12:10

   Hi guys, i am on the verge of buying a 1 litre ax, with the plan of dropping a vts engine in it. I have seen a good one but it has a blown head gasket.
   
   My plan is to buy this fix the head gasket, run it for a month and then drop the vts lump in it.
   
   My question is how long can you drive a car for with a blown head gasket? What happens if you drive it for too long? I ask this because i need to drive the car home half an hour away.
   
   Also what are the signs that it is definetly a blown head gasket? What else should i look out for?
   
   As it is a 1ltr i am guessing the rear beam will be 3 stud. How easy is it too fit a saxo 4 stud rear beam?
   
   I am asking on here because the ax forum is shite! Any help appreciated!
2. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #2 11th August 2007, 13:22

   would get it done asap mate, wont go for a month anyway lol,
   
   im sure the ax GT or GTi came with the 4 stud wheels, pretty sure it was the GTi though
3. GRAHAM2000VTR Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2007 peterborough Posts: 2861 2003 black vtr current escort van lol 2006 ford

   #3 11th August 2007, 15:07

   by the time you play about doing the head gasket spending a bit of money on it why not just rip the engine out as it knackerd so to speak then get ur vts lump in when done just sell or scrap the ax lump just my thoughts
4. liamk15 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2005 North east Posts: 6123 Type-r

   #4 11th August 2007, 15:11

   tbh unless your fitting the headgasket your self,there isnt any point of paying for it to be done.mayaswel keep the money for the vts engine.
5. BenSilverSaxo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2006 Keighley, West Yorkshire & Coventry Posts: 3416 Lupo gti

   #5 11th August 2007, 23:02

   The head gasket and vts conversion will be done by myself. I think doing the head gasket will get me used to being around and sorting out engines.
   
   Tbh i wanna get the headgasket sorted so i can go pick the engine up in the ax and not have to put the vts lump in my saxo or rent a van!
   
   Any thoughts on the issue of the studs guys?
6. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #6 11th August 2007, 23:39

   just try and find a AX GTi rear beam and front strut assemblies mate
7. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

   #7 12th August 2007, 00:23

   do a compression test. that'll tell you if the HD has gone for sure
8. BenSilverSaxo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2006 Keighley, West Yorkshire & Coventry Posts: 3416 Lupo gti

   #8 12th August 2007, 10:39

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by KamRacing do a compression test. that'll tell you if the HD has gone for sure

   is there anything i can do on the day though? I have heard that there is compression testing machines that you can buy is this right?
9. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

   #9 12th August 2007, 10:52

   A testing kit can be bought from Halfords for about £15-20
   
   Nothing you can really do if the HG has gone as a temporary fix. Depending on the severity you may suffer from poor performance, overheating, loss of coolant, loss of oil..
   
   If it overheats then you can damage the head and the internals. You can drive it.. BUT i would be keeping a very wary eye out.
10. BenSilverSaxo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2006 Keighley, West Yorkshire & Coventry Posts: 3416 Lupo gti

    #10 12th August 2007, 11:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KamRacing A testing kit can be bought from Halfords for about £15-20 Nothing you can really do if the HG has gone as a temporary fix. Depending on the severity you may suffer from poor performance, overheating, loss of coolant, loss of oil.. If it overheats then you can damage the head and the internals. You can drive it.. BUT i would be keeping a very wary eye out.

    Thanks Kam, all i need to do is get it home which is 11 miles. If i top up the coolant and drive it steady it should make this journey, shouldnt it?
11. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #11 12th August 2007, 11:53

    keep an eye on the temperature gauge.. and oil warning lights. Personally I would check it over at least at half distance.. but thats me being paranoid heh
12. BenSilverSaxo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2006 Keighley, West Yorkshire & Coventry Posts: 3416 Lupo gti

    #12 12th August 2007, 12:13

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KamRacing keep an eye on the temperature gauge.. and oil warning lights. Personally I would check it over at least at half distance.. but thats me being paranoid heh

    Yeah i will do, will take a bottle of water and top it up if needs be. I only need to get it back and then i can do the headgasket, if it all goes wrong and i warp the head it just means i will need to get the vts engine in sooner. Does anyone know of any guides on doing the head gasket? Will the haynes manual have it in??