Well.....my engine is toast :(

[Torqstr]

Did a compression test today, but when I got to the #2 cylinder I just stopped. When I hit the pressure release on the compression meter coolant and foam sprayed everywhere. So it's official, I've got coolant in my #2 cylinder.

I'm in debt, totally broke, and no idea what to do now. So long brave F22A

[CustomLowz]

[Gettin_faster91]

Dude its prolly just a head gasket. You can pick one up for less than 60 bucks and diy in a day. No special tools really needed. So 60 bucks or less to get a car running is well worth it. Its cheeper than taking a taxi.

[Torqstr]

ok, I've done engine swaps, transmissions swaps, suspension work, etc... but I have NEVER worked on the inside of an engine. I could get the head off, I know that, but getting it back together without it leaking and without messing up my timing?! How would I do that? I don't even know where to begin. I know absolutely nothing about head work and I know even less about timing. Would I even have to mess with my timing??? Could I just leave it timed like it is somehow? I have to ask because I don't know the first thing about engine internals except the basic mechanics, but I've never actually messed with it myself.

[Gettin_faster91]

For the timing if you dont have a timing gun ive seen people use a paint pin and get the motor to tdc take off the timing cover and use the paint pin to mark the timing belt and gear so when you put is back together just put the belt back on and match the marks up. The problem is you dont really know if its the head gaskit, it sounds like it but you cant really tell you open her up. Then ya gotta figure out what caused it to go bad in the first place. Might have to mill the head if it warped or something. Again cant tell till you get in there and look. You could prolly get away with using a thicker gasket and that copper spray stuff if it is warped a little and buy you some time to save up to get it fixed right. Just my 2cents.

[Gettin_faster91]

Look at the DIY head swap thread's they can walk you thru or get a manual. Granted the h23 head swap has alot more than just the gasket but its the same difference. Good luck man you can do it ! at least its a sohc much easy to time.

[cp[mike]]

if you can do a swap, you can manage a timing belt... pick up a manual (chiltons) and follow it step by step, its really not hard at all.

the headgasket is just a gasket. you just need to follow torquing procedure (listed in the manual)

sucks about your car, but this is the best way to learn the first time i ever really did a HG was when mine blew. mayberry4thgen helped me, we did it overnight, i needed the car to get to work the next day.

[Torqstr]

well that's my biggest problem, if I had someone to help me out I would probably just give it a shot, but I don't have anyone at all to help me with it and from experience I've learend to never undertake a major operation like this without help. Unfortunately out of the only two qualified people I knew that could help me with this one is dead and the other is in basic training.

[CustomLowz]

well that's my biggest problem, if I had someone to help me out I would probably just give it a shot, but I don't have anyone at all to help me with it and from experience I've learend to never undertake a major operation like this without help. Unfortunately out of the only two qualified people I knew that could help me with this one is dead and the other is in basic training.

If the engine is "TOAST" what do you have to lose??? it cant get any worse, so go for it. It can be a learning experience if anything else.

[Gettin_faster91]

Have faith in your self. You may not have someone there by your side but you have the cb7 tuner community here for questions and advice. If you run into a problem on the way just hit us up, im sure someone will step up to the plate and help ya out. YOU CAN DO THIS.

[Torqstr]

yeah I'm relatively sure I can...but if it doesn't work I've wasted $60 and lots of time and I can't afford to waste a cent because as it is I don't know how in the hell I'm going to afford another engine if I have to get one.

Also what I wanted to ask is about getting the head milled. The car only overheated on me once, the other day when I went to work it overheated pretty bad for not for an extended period of time. So do you think I will need to get the head milled? How will I be able to tell? And if I do have to have that done how much can I expect to have to pay for that?

[Gettin_faster91]

Well i know the feeling im poor and just had to pay like 300 bucks to go to the dr for a broken hand. But again 60 bucks is cheep if in fact that what it is. So look at it this way. 60 bucks for something that might fix ur car or 60 bucks to take it to a shop and have them tell you what they think the problem is. To check to see if the head is warped you can use a straight edge like a t square or metal yard stick something along those lines. When you get the head off you should be able to see right away if its the gasket or not. If so then clean the underside of the head and hold the straight edge to it. If there are gaps you have a warped head, you can tell when you look at it. Hell not trying to scare ya but could be the block that warped but doubtfull. If you find a warped head try looking at the forsale threads maybe you can her a new head cheeper than sending it out. You will have to call some machine shops for milling prices differ. But look on the bright side haha if you have to mill it then your able to bump the compression = more power lol... btw i just checked google for head gasket you can get them cheeper. 35 bucks or so for a mr gasket.

[Torqstr]

ok I think I'll try to change the head gasket, but what I'm worried about more than anything is the timing. If I mess it up I have no idea how to fix it

[MikeW]

If you have other transportation, youll be ok. If you need more help, come back here. Thats whats it for. If theres not a DIY on it, maybe someone can answer any Q's, if worse comes to worse, maybe someone will give you a call and talk you through it...

[h22sparkle]

Hey man you gotta man up and learn sometime how do you think most of us got here today with swaps and clutch changes you get the tools some wratchet wrenches and shit and a chiltons and get in there and work. Youll benefit from it in the end.