Head gasket replcement on my $600 mitsu gst

Ces4rDSM · Feb 3, 2019

Hello, I recently bought my mitsubishi eclipse spyder gst it is a 1997 2g 4g63t model. I got it with an overheating issue but other than that ran good on a test drive, turbo sounded great, everything good just overheating issue. Found out it is HG problem so i bought the fel pro gasket kit. Ive opened the top of motor to reveal the cam shafts full of mucky oil def. Mixed with coolant, springs need replacing pretty sure water pump and timing belt need some maintenance as well. Not sure what special tools I need but im on budget of 400 extra bucks. I need cherry picker too which I will borrow maybe. PLEASE HELP timing the engine scares me since im not sure what special tools i need.

brian9397gsx · Feb 3, 2019

None there's no special tools needed to time the engine. You don't need to remove the engine either. Just pull the head off get a good sized plastic tote and a gallon of mineral spirits and some cheap bathroom scrub brushes and clean up the head in that. If it's got oil in the cooling system I'd look at replacing the radiator especially if it's the original and back flushing the heater core with a garden hose. Then just keep track of everything and mark your timing marks on the gears so they are easy to see and go to town. Its really not hard. When I did my first head about 15yrs ago all I used was a crappy Haynes manual and a set of hand tools.

Ces4rDSM · Feb 3, 2019

Will try, hope theres no problems with the task, thanks!

dustyboner · Feb 3, 2019

i would at least get one of these

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mitsubro93 · Feb 5, 2019

Okay not using tools to time it is just giving yourself a headache buy a billet cam lock and also get that tensioner pulley tool or else you’ll have to find something else to tension it. With the tool posted above and a 1/4 ratchet with 1/4 sockets doing the tensioner pulley in car is easy without it I don’t know how people do it. Aside from that you need no other special tools buy them there cheap or regret it.

dustyboner · Feb 5, 2019

mitsubro93 said:
without it I don’t know how people do it.

allen wrenches, a flat head screwdriver and hopefully some one to help you.

pauleyman · Feb 5, 2019

The only tool I ever found very handy was already pictured. All the other tools are optional but do help. That means said I own the tensioner bolt and a cam lock tool but only for convenience not because it's necessary. It doesn't matter what method you use so long as the hydraulic tension is in Spec once you're finished

JPenny · Feb 5, 2019

I strongly believe in getting the right tool for the job but if you are in a pinch, a long pair of 90° needle nose pliers works really well to tension that pulley. Zip ties and patience will be your best friend. Check it twice if concerned check it again. Theres tons of info on this forum and lots of YouTube videos. Look up jafromobile on YouTube I'm not sure about others but his videos have helped me alot. Thank you for your time, Jason Penny

mitsubro93 · Feb 5, 2019

Yeah I’ve seen people grab the cam gears with wrenches to help with alignment, but I would never do that because remember that’s an area where if your off a single tooth your out of time. Yeah I can see an Allen wrench fitting in the tensioner pulley area that’ll work for sure if your hand can leverage it.

pauleyman · Feb 5, 2019

mitsubro93 said:
Yeah I’ve seen people grab the cam gears with wrenches to help with alignment, but I would never do that because remember that’s an area where if your off a single tooth your out of time. Yeah I can see an Allen wrench fitting in the tensioner pulley area that’ll work for sure if your hand can leverage it.

for years I just used a pair of binder clips to clip the belt to the sprockets. Sprockets don't move and belt doesn't slip off. I have a cam gear tool now but honeslty it's no more convenient.

dustyboner · Feb 5, 2019

pauleyman said:
for years I just used a pair of binder clips to clip the belt to the sprockets.

I do the same thing

boostdawd · Feb 5, 2019

What do u guys use to push the timing tensioner down? Jay racing has a nice kit. But u can make your own with a long rod and thread maker. For the idler pulley some snap ring pliers work good. Other than that you really dont need any special tools. Are u planning on keeping the balance shafts as well?

dustyboner · Feb 5, 2019

i use a shop press or a vice when one is around. otherwise i just stick the tensioner between a jack (spare tire or small bottle jack) and the underside of the car and slowly raise the jack till it is compressed.

pauleyman · Feb 5, 2019

boostdawd said:
What do u guys use to push the timing tensioner down? Jay racing has a nice kit. But u can make your own with a long rod and thread maker. For the idler pulley some snap ring pliers work good. Other than that you really dont need any special tools. Are u planning on keeping the balance shafts as well?

I've used every trick there is over the years. The Jay racing kit is so cheap there is no reason to not have it so I use that although I prefer the OEM tool. I lost count of belts after I did about 50 and that was 20 years ago.

mitsubro93 · Feb 6, 2019

That’s basically what I did I lined up my cams inserted my cam lock then I inserted the timing belt into the intake cam teeth. Then I clip that down at the top with a binder clip. While the lock is still there I very lightly nudge the exhaust cam with a wrench to get the timing belt meshed in then I lock that with a binder clip. Finish off tdcing the bottom of the engine tension it presto just make sure ya rotate it six times over after 15 min of pulling the pin and your golden

oh and as for pushing the tensioner down I have a extreme psi bolt that goes in through the side of the timing cover but you can do it any way as long as it’s done slowly from what I hear.

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Head gasket replcement on my $600 mitsu gst

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mitsubro93

dustyboner

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