FWD Head Gasket bad...

[adm2204]

I currently have a 91 Laser, in great shape but with no issue: Blown head gasket. I love my Laser and my friend jrohner says with just a few hundred I can have her back on the road (hopefully). At this point I know that either way I'm going to want to fix the Laser but I don't know if I want to sell it then or keep it. He and another friend of mine have GSX's and although I would rather have a 1g (theirs are 2g's) I really think an AWD would be a lot more fun. I don't know if it would be worth switching though, as it would cost a good deal of money. Hell, I'd swap my FWD to an AWD but that would be stupid for how much work/money it takes. I've seen the potential of AWD and it's amazing. My FWD can't even take off worth a crap and it's pretty much stock. I just got 680 injectors which I would have put in but my head gasket went. Once I've got more power I just have a feeling that even with new tires and an lsd it will be unmanageable and no fun to drive. I know the most cost effective thing to do is fix up the Laser and keep driving it but I just think that I'm going to outgrow FWD too fast. What should I do? Help me out, guys.

 

[fwdmaster]

Keep your laser and do a whole rebuilt on the head and change all the upper head related gaskets and you will have a good running dsm again

 

[Daaan]

I replaced my head gasket in my fwd when i was 18. You should learn an do it yourself, save money and sell it later for an awd. experience, money, and knowledge (for when your awd breaks) will be gained..

 

[Daaan]

ps, if you choose to keep your car replace the tb's waterpump and tensioner to save you a headache later. Unless your just going to sell it.

 

[Locke]

Doesn't matter. You can fix the engine in your car now, build it up to your hearts content, and have a running vehicle NOW that didn't cost much to get going.

Later, you can sell the shell, purchase an AWD, then swap in the good engine you have been building.

 

[xioca]

Later, you can sell the shell, purchase an AWD, then swap in the good engine you have been building.

Thats how you do it.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Yep changed mine it was a learning experience for the job itself, and i learned more about my dsm.

 

[Daaan]

He wouldnt get much for a nt shell, and theres no sense in swapping the rebuilt engine because the only thing being "rebuilt" is a new hg.

 

[adm2204]

Well I do all my own work (or once again have jrohner help) and I might just fix this car up and buy an AWD from him. He has a nice 90 (i think) GSX but it's an auto :\ Either way I'm going to fix up my current car which by the way IS an RS-T not a N/T. But, as Daaan said a shell... N/T or not, is pretty much worthless. That's why I'm fixing it up either way. and the few basic mods that I would do to the FWD wouldn't be worth swapping the engine into the GSX anyway, because it'd only be injectors, fuel pump, etc. I don't want much more than 300HP out of that FWD for obvious reasons. HA there should be an emote for torque steer! XD

Anyway thanks for the input, guys. I'm gonna fix up my FWD and see how much power I can screw out of the stock turbo. I think that will be my objective with this car. I wonder if I can get 300 horse... Later I'll get a GSX and start doing some serious work big work will go into my GSX once I buy one. Maybe if I have enough posts by the time I get my car running I'll do a project blog. I don't know how hard it will be to get 300 out of a 14b but if it gets too spensive I'll just buy a GSX. No point in doing too much with an FWD IMHO...


Thanks again, wish me luck!

 

[adm2204]

And I would swap the trans in one of the autos but I keep hearing auto-man swap horror stories so I think if I have to get an auto GSX that's better than a FWD anyway. Also the whole gear ratio crap with trans swap from a FWD to an AWD.

 

[turbobluers]

Hey watch what you say about the fwd's. We can have fun too with less driveline loss and cheaper repair bills.

For around town the fwd is great (although I would love the awd for these wonderful PA winters...) With an LSD and good tires, I never usually have any problems, and besides ripping the tires loose rolling in 3rd scares the crap out of your passengers.

For the track, a decent set of drag radials with a little wider rim and smaller diameter lets you stick DECENTLY well. (of course i've never launched in an awd so I can't compare. I do however, manage to launch better than my equally equipped mustang-havin brother). Torque steer isn't bad. It's actually kinda fun.

Don't sell out on the fwd yet. And IMO I'd rather have the 5 speed fwd than the auto awd BUT THAT's JUST ME!!! (as he prepares for the crucifixion to begin in 3-2-1...)

 

[adm2204]

Hey watch what you say about the fwd's. We can have fun too with less driveline loss and cheaper repair bills.

For around town the fwd is great (although I would love the awd for these wonderful PA winters...) With an LSD and good tires, I never usually have any problems, and besides ripping the tires loose rolling in 3rd scares the crap out of your passengers.

For the track, a decent set of drag radials with a little wider rim and smaller diameter lets you stick DECENTLY well. (of course i've never launched in an awd so I can't compare. I do however, manage to launch better than my equally equipped mustang-havin brother). Torque steer isn't bad. It's actually kinda fun.

Don't sell out on the fwd yet. And IMO I'd rather have the 5 speed fwd than the auto awd BUT THAT's JUST ME!!! (as he prepares for the crucifixion to begin in 3-2-1...)

I know exactly what you mean. The whole reason I got an FWD in the first place was because my friend, whom I bought it from, had two choices: an FWD manual, or one of his AWD autos. I chose the FWD. However, after driving one for over a year now, and also driving my two DSMTuners friends cars, I like the AWD better.

HA, crucifixion? Watch this:

I've actually thought about getting rid of my DSM and getting an Evo VIII.


Hey, it's still KIND of a DSM, right? 4g63? Mitsu? Right? Right?

 

[adm2204]

Uhmmm, nevermind the Evo, I'm back with my Laser after a messy breakup. Head gasket is in and car is on the road! See HERE for more...