Need some opinions...[should I change head gasket?]

[DSM_NOOBIE]

Okay so i have a junkyard motor i purchased ready to be fill with all new timing belt parts along with water pump. Now im debating if i should change the headgasket out after reading a thread about the sce titan headgasket. i understand that when you change out a headgasket its in your best interest to get the head resurfaced. i really dont want to spend the extra money getting a new gasket,arp bolts, machining the head, and im even thinking about porting and polishing my exhaust port myself just because the carbon buildup is bad.

my initial plans for this car was to keep it under 1000 to get it running.
90 gsx(w/ snapped t-belt)= $150
junkyard 4g63(t-belt intact) =$350
Oem T-belt kit w/waterpump= $260
Balance shaft elimator kit= $42
misc seals and gaskets= $50
clutch = need to pick one out ~$350

as you can see its creeping up over my budget.

do you think i should change it out?

 

[4BangR-x]

It all depends on the condition its in. Yes its hard to tell, but if there is any visual of leaking, then you should change it. As they say your better safe then sorry.

 

[flyinghighlm]

I would say yes as well, the last thing you want is to put the motor together and drop it in the car just so start ppuching coolant through the car....Yeah you will go over your budget but I think any DSM owner will tell that they have gone over thier budget as well b/c you open one thing it leds to another part of pandoras box....

 

[skinnykenny84]

I dont think going over that 1,000$ budget a lil is so bad. Hell, at the end of the day youll have a nice reliable gsx that you initially paid 150$ for! I cant say for shure without seeing the car but you wouldnt have any problems selling it for 1500-3,000$, considering the condition.

 

[perley03]

I would say yes as well, the last thing you want is to put the motor together and drop it in the car just so start ppuching coolant through the car....Yeah you will go over your budget but I think any DSM owner will tell that they have gone over thier budget as well b/c you open one thing it leds to another part of pandoras box....

! Haven't we all been down that road before......
If I was in the situation you are in, I would definatly replace the headgasket. Even just the OEM one for now. If your plans are to just get the car going, then yes i would change it. I wouldn't however spend ~$350 on a clutch.....i think an OEM replacement would do just fine for now. That should save you about ~$200 right there, and you could then buy the headgasket and head bolts. But this is me, and everyone else may or may not have a different opinion.

 

[OR Talonted]

i would say yes also. Even replaceing it with a oem gasket. I put i fell pro gasket on my car which was cheap and it seems to be holding pretty good at 16 psi. But if you want it to hold alittle better buy a can of that copper gasket sealant (the Spray). That will help very good. I always used that on the 18 wheeler heads and they push way more boost than our 4 bangers.

 

[OR Talonted]

dont feel to bad about spending alittle more money than what ou planed. Like perley03 said we all DSMer's have been there before.

 

[skinnykenny84]

youll still have less in the entire car than I have in just my tranny! ! ........or suspension, ! ..........or exhaust

 

[DSM_NOOBIE]

ok it seems like im going to replace the head gasket.....when doing so do i "NEED" to have the block decked?can i just resurface the head? or do both?

 

[perley03]

If you want to be safe, get a straight edge and lay it across the block in multiple places and take a set of feeler guages and check the tolerances. I dont have my book here with me so i cant tell you the tolerances but if you are doing a headgasket pick up either a Haynes or Chilton....believe me you will need it in the future anyways. Those repair manuals tell you everything you need to know about our DSM's and i've just about worn mine out already. Also do the straight edge on the head and check the tolerances there too. You need to check the tolerances to determine if either the block or head needs to be resurfaced. If you use something to clean the head use a copper or brass brush, since its softer than the aluminum and wont scare the head. It's ok to use a steel on the block ONLY since it wont scare it. If you run into problems just post and someone on here will definatly help you out.