Headgasket question

[Kyogie12]

So I picked up this 95 GST and i've been doing all the routine stuff to make it reliable again. I'm going to be pulling the engine and doing Timing stuff, water pump, bse, clutch and a good clean up. I'm wondering since the car has 182000 miles on it and since the engine will be out and the timing belt off should I just do a new OEM Headgasket and ARP studs while i'm at it?

I don't know when/if ever the HG was replaced and rather not have to tear apart my engine again if it blows soon.

It's going to be my DD, plans for 16g and supporting mods 6-12 months down the road. Until then stock boost and such.

 

[Cdc1221]

If the engine is in good shape, then yeah, id freshen that head up, new springs, resurface, etc. Might as well since youre that far into it

 

[clipto]

Definitly sence your pulling out the motor is time to freshin up everything and the tranny and all. 183k i would be all over fixing it up.

 

[Kyogie12]

I'm on somewhat of a budget (coming near the end of said budget) and need it running in at least 3-4 weeks time. The car was taken care of, but for the past year it's been sitting. Hence the tune up on everything.

 

[lee98talon]

If it was me, ill do the head gasket and ect. too while im at it. That way ill save more time and a little money. Do it once and do it right.

 

[1995silvergst]

If you can do all the engine work at once you are better off to do it right once and not worry about it. I would do like what has been said head gasket, arp, springs, lifter mod, seals, balance shafts, all now while it is easier to access. Almost forgot water pump and oil pump very important too.

 

[WES_393]

Im going to go against the grain here and say no. A head gasket doesn't have a standard service limit like the timing belt, it's highly unlikely that your head gasket will fail due to age or mileage. Failure is almost always from overheating, lack of supporting mods, or poor tuning. The head bolts can stretch with time/mileage allowing the head to lift easily and blow out the gasket, but a set of ARP studs should prevent that from happening. So there's really no benefit to replacing a good head gasket.

I'm not saying maintenance is bad, but at some point you have to stop saying "While I'm at it, might as well". Otherwise you'll get the head off and say "while I'm at it, might as well rebuild the engine". And then you get the engine out and say "while I'm at it, might as well build a stroker". And then you notice the transmission is kinda gross... It can become endless. Unless the head gasket is blown, or the head is being removed for other reasons, I wouldn't touch it.

 

[Rs AWD]

i have a 92 vr4 and thats whats happening to me. ive been in the "while im at it" phase for almost a full year now and its not looking like its coming to an end anytime soon. everytime i finish up and get it together i see or notice something and i tell myself, well ive already gone this far and back in the garage it goes...

 

[Cdc1221]

Haha true wes true. Ive spent over $2k in two months. Might as well do hg and studs, oh while replacing valves, get new springs, might as well do cams before i set timing. And im still not done . On to brakes, turbo, ic, injectors. Part of that this weekend . Gah i love not having bills out the a**