Guidance wanted for head rebuilding.

[droptopgst]

Well the time has finally come when I will actually be doing my head gasket. It just so happens that the day before I drove it to my shop I blew out second gear. Now the tranny is out and being sent to TRE. My question is what do you guys think should I
1. wait to get the tranny back to take out the head? (only motor mount left is the one on the head)
2. rebuild a head from a 95 tsi that someone gave me? (dont know if it will make any difference from my 98 head.)
3. take the whole motor out and pull the head while the tranny is out and have the stock one resurfaced.
4. another suggestion I have not listed

98 gst spyder 150,000 miles

50 trim supp. mods, dsm link ect......

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[ChvyKc]

Well the time has finally come when I will actually be doing my head gasket. It just so happens that the day before I drove it to my shop I blew out second gear. Now the tranny is out and being sent to TRE. My question is what do you guys think should I
1. wait to get the tranny back to take out the head? (only motor mount left is the one on the head)
2. rebuild a head from a 95 tsi that someone gave me? (dont know if it will make any difference from my 98 head.)
3. take the whole motor out and pull the head while the tranny is out and have the stock one resurfaced.
4. another suggestion I have not listed

98 gst spyder 150,000 miles

50 trim supp. mods, dsm link ect......

Thanks for any suggestions.

Ported head and intake manifold, oversized valves and some nasty cams would help you out a lot. We did that to a buddy's car when he blew his head gasket. He went from 286 at the wheels to right at 330 on the stock SMIC and a 16G. I would say if you got the money go with a slightly built head, it is worth it while you got the head off.

 

[CanadianTSi]

I would freshen up the spare head that you have and then just swap them when the time comes.

 

[Turbocharged]

I would freshen up the spare head that you have and then just swap them when the time comes.

I agree with this. DSM heads flow very well in stock form. You dont really need oversized valves unless you are making some serious power. I cant remember where I saw the flow charts, but somewhere there is a comparison of a stock 1g head to a lightly ported 1g head with oversized valves. The stock head performed almost exactly the same as the head with the oversized valves. Its a big investment for minimal gains. A better investment would be cams.

Get a valve job (3 or 5 angle), new seals and have it resurfaced. It should only cost $225 -275 if you dont have any bent valves or bad guides.

I have similar mods as you and Im doing ^ to a 1g head I have laying around to put on my 2.4 this january.

 

[hks-gst]

whatever you do dont go oversized valves. you will actually lose hp w/ ## setup

 

[Boostin GST]

haha i just got what u meant by title name. cometic headgasket while its out and arp studs. also some prothane mounts would be a great idea since everything is out.

 

[Boostin GST]

ohhh and if you wanna swap the head go with a 1g head and intake manifold. well worth the upgrade.

 

[droptopgst]

well as much as I would love to get o/s valves and cams I dont have the cash at this point. In the last month I have bought Dsm link, TRE tranny, head gasket with arp's and all the timing belt stuff. I am next to broke. The main thing I am debating on is if I should use the 95 head or just take the 98 out and go with one more day of down time. I believe that the 95 will require some hacking of some sort due to the CAS, or something to do with the plugs/coil. Not fully understanding what yet.

 

[Boostin GST]

well as much as I would love to get o/s valves and cams I dont have the cash at this point. In the last month I have bought Dsm link, TRE tranny, head gasket with arp's and all the timing belt stuff. I am next to broke. The main thing I am debating on is if I should use the 95 head or just take the 98 out and go with one more day of down time. I believe that the 95 will require some hacking of some sort due to the CAS, or something to do with the plugs/coil. Not fully understanding what yet.

1G HEAD!!!!! squeeze another 200 dollars outa somewhere, u can sell your 98 head for 100 easily. so that means youll end up paying only 100. its better to do it now since your changing the gasket. cause then youd have to buy another 100 dollar gasket. unless you wanna reuse it but i wouldnt recommend.

95 head cas is on opposite side. so yes some modification will have to be made. you usually have to switch the wires since they are opposite on those years but if you said you bought dsmlink then its just a setting switch away instead of cutting wires. so unless the 95 head is ported or has something aftermarket thats worth it i would just sell it or keep it as a spare.

OR just sell both and theres your money for 1g head and 1g manifold.

 

[Boostin GST]

i keep forgetting shit to type. call your local junk yard and ask for pricing. might find one really cheap.

 

[jdmjason]

the yards here always have low mileage heads...for like $100

 

[ChvyKc]

the yards here always have low mileage heads...for like $100

I agree with the rest of the guys, if you don't have the money at least go with a 1G head/manifold swap. It is well worth the money. I just suggested building the head slighty because that's what I would do if I was swapping head gaskets.

 

[Turbocharged]

Is your head gasket blown or are you replacing it for insurance? If it is blown get the head resurfaced at the minimum.

 

[Turbocharged]

And I really dont agree with pulling a head off of a junked car unless you know the car was running when it was junked. You could end up with a crack or warped head or bad internal components (cams can be expensive to replace).

 

[ChvyKc]

And I really dont agree with pulling a head off of a junked car unless you know the car was running when it was junked. You could end up with a crack or warped head or bad internal components (cams can be expensive to replace).

I agree, I would at least try to get one off the boards that you know came off a running car. I pulled the motor out of a junk yard for another AWD that I had and it had a cracked head on it when I got it. The guy at the junk yard swore to me that the head had just been rebuilt and pressure tested.

 

[OB1]

1. wait to get the tranny back to take out the head? (only motor mount left is the one on the head)

The motor mount bolts to the block, not the head, so you could take the head off and have just the block left in the engine bay.

 

[bastarddsm]

You know you can use a non turbo head right?

 

[bfdahl]

Id do a good simple 3 angle valve job, new seals on a 1G head and throw in some Crower valve springs in and re use all the OE retainers for a good buget head job.

if you have some porting tools just deburr the head, no real grindage and it will be iccing on the cake.

 

[droptopgst]

Thanks for the suggestions guys but I really dont have the cash at this point to do half of this stuff like like built 1g heads ect... In the last month I have bought Dsm link, TRE tranny, head gasket with arp's and all the timing belt stuff. If I am correct the 1g head will require a bit of altering to make it work and I will also need diff. studs and gaskets. I would also need to find one and get them shipped here. This is a daily driver and cant afford to have it down while I look all over for these parts. I think I might sell this 95 head, pull my head off, have it resurfaced and use that again. I CANT spend any more $$ on this car now. $3,000 in 1 month is too much as is, If I spend any more my old lady will kill me.

 

[Boostin GST]

Thanks for the suggestions guys but I really dont have the cash at this point to do half of this stuff like like built 1g heads ect... In the last month I have bought Dsm link, TRE tranny, head gasket with arp's and all the timing belt stuff. If I am correct the 1g head will require a bit of altering to make it work and I will also need diff. studs and gaskets. I would also need to find one and get them shipped here. This is a daily driver and cant afford to have it down while I look all over for these parts. I think I might sell this 95 head, pull my head off, have it resurfaced and use that again. I CANT spend any more $$ on this car now. $3,000 in 1 month is too much as is, If I spend any more my old lady will kill me.

Sorry but your not correct.

You will be using the 7 bolt block so the arp studs you have right now will bolt up just fine. So will the gasket. No altering whats so ever. its pretty much drop in and bolt up just like a 2g head.

heh i know where your coming from. i spent 4k just this last month and i was like I spent 4k already might as well spend 175 more for 1g head. i just recently sold my 2g head for 125. Trust me on this, you dont want to put 2g back in and then later on you want to swap it and you WILL have to buy another gasket. It is a very good bang for buck mod. I would really really recommend it since its out.

 

[bastarddsm]

Do you have a blown headgasket? if not then just leave it alone, and deal with it when the time comes.

 

[bullettdsm]

i spent 4k just this last month and i was like I spent 4k already might as well spend 175 more for 1g head.

You guys gots too much money . Why don't you ship a little my way ? The wife would kill me if she found out I spent 2k on my THREE dsm's. Let alone 4k on one! Ouch.
MB

 

[Boostin GST]

You guys gots too much money . Why don't you ship a little my way ? The wife would kill me if she found out I spent 2k on my THREE dsm's. Let alone 4k on one! Ouch.
MB

heh doesnt happen so often. its just that i purchased my pte 60-1 and figured might as well go all out while im at it.