Headgasket Question

[1990whitetsiawd]

Ok I recently just bout a 91 tsi awd and it needs a headgasket. The PO just did one about a thousand miles ago but had a boost issues and it blew again. He said he replaced water pump, and all idlers and new belt so a full timing belt job. He used stock headbolts and a new oem head gasket. So my question is can I just undo the head bolts lift the head a slight amount put new gasket and arps in? I was just gona use a stock gasket and put the studs in like evo owners do? all Im gona do with this car is use it as a winter beater and winters here so I don't wanna screw around.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

That will be ok but I would really recommend pulling the head all the way to check the surface and clean it off. Also you can check the cylinder walls as well to make sure they look good and don't have any scoring. You will also want to make sure the threads in the block are VERY clean, no oil, dirt or coolant in there. If so the ARP's won't go in all the way and you will be in the same boat again. To do it right though I would have the head pulled, checked for straightness and cleaned up. Then I would feel safe about the headgasket job.

 

[1990whitetsiawd]

Ya I understand but after looking through the 3k in reciepts and seeing that he had the head milled I thought about doing it this way. Now mind you if I was gona build it I deffinately would rip it apart but this is gona be a straight wastegated 14b automatic that will be sold in spring so.

 

[rlacasse1]

I would pull it off. becuase when you break the head loose antifreeze is gonna get all over between the block and head. and you dont want those surfaces wet at all when you put in the gasket. its better to pull it all the way so you can make sure it won't have a problem after five minutes

 

[Kickerbeast]

I would pull it off. becuase when you break the head loose antifreeze is gonna get all over between the block and head. and you dont want those surfaces wet at all when you put in the gasket. its better to pull it all the way so you can make sure it won't have a problem after five minutes

+1 and you don't want to hydrolock your engine and bend a rod. That suck even more. At the point you are at, it will likely just make more work for you if you don't just pull the head off. If everything looks great, you clean everything off and slap it all back together. Better safe than sorry.

 

[BolichE]

if installing arp studs, u have to clean the the threads in the block and tap them to make sure that the studs dont losen up and ruin ## new head gasket ### then u'll be back to square one. just pull the head and do it right the first time around !