Head gasket replacement on 2L sigma

[Datto-Zed]

It's off!

As suspected the culprit was the gasket being blown between 2 and 3. Also for ages it's had a leak from the water gallery into no. 4. It looks fairly corroded around that rear most water gallery, but I wont know for sure till I clean it all up, which brings me to my next question.

What's the best way of cleaning up the surface of the head and the block? Also, what's the best way to stop any debris falling into the cylinders or oil/water passages while cleaning it up?

Oh and thanks to all of you for your help so far, I would have been stuck with out ya's.

[Datto-Zed]

More questions.

What sort of money would I be looking at to have the head machined if that was required? Also, how should the new head gaskets be installed? I've heard various things from oiling it, to painting it to using some sort of sealant?

[Datto-Zed]

And here's the gasket!

[karl_2ltGC]

head machine shouldnt be more than $50-100 or so

I cleaned up block/head with a razor blade/paint scaper, just dont 'dint/cut' the head.

WHen mine did a gasket i just slaped it on and torqued it up....

To remove carbon outa cylinder that fell in while cleaning i used a vacuum cleaner

[Datto-Zed]

Thanks karl.....will give it a whirl.

[Stiggy]

lol @ vacuum...

You don't need to use any sealant etc on the gasket...

I'd also be guessing around $50-$100 to face the head... I had a shit load of work done to my head for $340 but that included a race cam, new valves, full recondition, face... etc.... so just getting it machined wouldnt cost much I'd imagine...
Patching up the corroded area might cost u a bit to fix though.. another 100 maybe?

[Datto-Zed]

Just finished the job! I didn't get the head machined as this job was definantly on the cheap. While it looked fine around the edges of each of the cylinders, it was pretty corroded around the water galleries.

Seems to run just fine atm, although it wont be going anywhere till it's had an oil change as there's a lot of water in there.

Just did a compression test and got 180psi on each cylinder.....not bad for a motor with 340000km!

[THE ASH]

fark that's OK! wich mine had that much compression

[Datto-Zed]

Hehe... your has a LOT less than that.