Replacing My Head Gasket

[ortorc]

Ok, so i have a 99 420a eclipse that i need to do a head gasket on. This is my daily driver and can't have it down for super long. All i am looking for is to replace the hg and other gaskets that it may need along the way. I have done my research and the only major questions i have now are about cam timing and head torque.

I was hoping someone had pics of what it should like like with all the marks lined up and where them marks should be on the head and timing gears.

My other question is what exactly is the torque specs on the 420 stock head bolts.

Right now i don't have the money to upgrade like i want to. i just need to get the car in good mechanical order before leaving for IRAQ so my wife doesn't have to worry about engine problems.

Thanks in advance for the help.


DC

 

[Bud92gsx]

Well sir, 1st of all why dont you go buy a Haynes book for you car. That will assist you more than you know. and will help in future repaires or service. I don't know jack about 420a's, but the Haynes book will assist you on you repair. and if your gonna take the head off you might want to think about replacing the water pump and all the belts and shit while your in there.

 

[ortorc]

The reason why i'm not touching the belts is because the are all new (within 15k) also the water appears decently new with no issues.... I just bought the car and i need to get the head to stop externally leaking oil. Like i aslo said before, this needs to be done on a budget, i understand preventive maintenance but everything else is still in good shape and doesn't need replaced.

Once i return from IRAQ i hope to go through the engine and completely rebuild and go for boost. this preventive maintenance is just to make sure my wife has reliable transportation for the 6 months i'm gone

 

[Bud92gsx]

Ya get a haynes repair manual. It should have all the info you will need. I think. I have one but i couldnt find the specs that you need. Plus im an idiot when it comes to books. I did look for it in the stuff i got off of alldata, but its for a 4g63 not a 420A. So start with the Haynes manual, there only like $15. You really cant go wrong!!

 

[absolute_DSM]

6 months? You must be in the AF. Good luck, keep your head down.

Straight from the Chiltons -

Cylinder head
Short bolts - 20 ft/lbs + additional 1/4 turn
Longer bolts - 48 ft/lbs + additional 1/4 turn

Valve Timing is below.

Heres a couple things I would include also from a site like "Mitsubishi Parts".

OEM timing belt - PN M04667611.
Timing belt tensioner - PN M04777395.

You dont want that baby snapping while youre gone.

 

[ortorc]

Actually i'm in the Marine Corps. just happen to be an airwinger though.

 

[ortorc]

Absolute, thanks for the info... that's exactly what i was hoping for... like i said, i'm completely capible of doin the job (I'm a diesel tech) it's just there was a couple of things i couldn't figure out and i have seen wrong info in a haynes before.... It was for a chevy though.

 

[ortorc]

just wondering, are any specialty tools required for the r/r of the hg? I heard something about compressing the tensioner and it being hydraulic but haven't dealt with them before?

 

[absolute_DSM]

Ah yes, I forgot the Marines were on 6 month tours. Army here, were still stuck with the 12-18 months of fun!

There shouldnt be any "special" tools needed. You can use a vise to compress the tensioner slowly to slip in a pin (hex wrench will work) if youre not replacing it.

If you pick up a Chiltons manual everything is outlined in section 3. If not, Id be happy to scan the pages for you and shoot you an email. Like I said, its a pretty straight forward deal, but sometimes its good to know what youre getting into before you start!

 

[ortorc]

Absolute,
here's my email... [email protected] if you aren't to busy could you send me those pages.... like you said the more i can read up prior the better. Just looking for a better idea of what i'm getting into with this dohc... really haven't messed with them too much

 

[absolute_DSM]

Youre emailed. Lets try and keep a military wife happy!

 

[4UH8ERS]

There was a revision to the original torque specs that came out with the use of the Multi-layer steel headgasket. The torque is increased as follows:

NOTE :THE 2.0L DOHC TORQUE AND TORQUING PROCEDURE HAS CHANGED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A MLS GASKET. USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES FOR THE 2.0L DOHC ONLY.

2.OL DOHC TORQUE PROCEDURE WITH MLS GASKET INSTALLATION

NOTE :THE 4 SHORT BOLTS ARE PLACED IN THE CORNERS.

A. Torque all center bolts to 34 Nm (25 Ft Lbs), Torque the 4 corner bolts to 27 Nm (20 Ft Lbs).

B. Torque all center bolts to 68 Nm (50 Ft Lbs), Torque the 4 corner bolts to 47 Nm (35 Ft Lbs).

C. Re-torque all center bolts to 68 Nm (50 Ft Lbs), Re-torque the 4 corner bolts to 47 Nm (35 Ft Lbs).

D. Tighten all bolts in the specified sequence (Fig 1) an additional 90°(1/4 turn).

Make sure you use these new specs when you replace your headgasket.
Doug

 

[cs82685]

If you want, here's a link to the factory service manual

http://az2gnt.net/FSM/2gnt_420a_overhaul.pdf

also, like said, you don't need any special tools except renting the CORRECT puller to remove the crank pulley, as far as lining the cams up correctly, line up the crank sprocket with the arrow on the block, then make sure the holes in the cams are facing upwards (i'll try to find the pic i saw last week to describe it better)

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

Also V faq has the entire how to, Ill be using it here tomorrow for a t-belt job. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html

 

[braceyoself777]

Well sir, 1st of all why dont you go buy a Haynes book for you car. That will assist you more than you know. and will help in future repaires or service. I don't know jack about 420a's, but the Haynes book will assist you on you repair. and if your gonna take the head off you might want to think about replacing the water pump and all the belts and shit while your in there.

+1000

A do it yourself manual is rule number 1 for DIY jobs. Also, check the fourms for by using the search features. 90% of the time when I was doing a head swap, I referred to this site or the manual for help. Theres alot of ways to do the job, its just up to you in which way you want to do it.

 

[totaleclipse_05]

Be prepared to spend $3-4 hundred to do a headgasket job.

Buy an upper gasket kit from from O'reillys which will include headgasket, valve cover gaskets, intake mani gaskets, thermostat housing gaskets, etc. Bring the head into a machine shop to get looked over, hot tanked, and flattened. Personally, I would replace timing compenents whenever taking it all apart. PartsDinosaur has a cheap kit for a little over a hundred that works great.

Once you get the head back, it should only take a day to get everything back together if it is your first time.

Also, read this:
http://www.2gnt.com/www/corbin/rebuild.html

Best guide to doing a headgasket IMO.

 

[ortorc]

Well, thank you all for responding however after about a 45 minute inspection on this issue myself, I have relized that it isn't my hg at all. I have now had 2 shops in San Diego tell me a wrong diagnosis first it was the rear main seal, next the hg all because the camshaft positioning sensor is dripping some oil from it. Talk about being pissed. Oh well, atleast it's a 75 dollar sensor that I can replace at home rather than a 1300 dollar hg that i would have to take to a shop.

 

[ortorc]

ok, so here's the list of current problems.
1. rough idle
2. poor take off -3000 rpms in low gears
3. throwing misfire code #1 only
4. in 4th i couldn't get passed 4500 tonight
5. oil leak from the cam pos. sens.
6. feels like a hard miss under load (mostly upper gears)
7. exhaust will also pop like it's breaking up (popping coming under load (accel) from what seems to be under the driver seat area (about mid car)

 

[Car_guy_09]

Are sure its not leaking from that little half moon thing on the back drivers side where the valve cover meets the head? That where allot of 420a's start leaking oil over time.

 

[ortorc]

yeah, pulled the intake tube off and could clearly see it. it's dripping onto the heater hoses and dripping down from there. just kinda concerned where this other problem is from.

 

[Car_guy_09]

Take a picture of it and i mite be able to help

 

[ortorc]

the other problem i was refering to was my previosly post listing the current symptons