3drstretch

iTrader: (1)

How hard to change a head gasket on a 1.4 53 plate MG ZR and book time on how long please Any special locking tools required etc etc Any tips ??

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

They arnt that bad to do.Ive heard that people use a land rover free lander head gasket cause they are thicker.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

has it got hot?

GUZZLER

iTrader: (3)

its worth doing the belt & waterpump why your at it

orion_crazy_carl

iTrader: (3)

are they the engine where the bolts go right thru and hold the main end bearing caps in place?

3drstretch

iTrader: (1)

Heaters not working tried bleeding no success water always pressurised and getting hot on short motorways jourenys and she's afraid to drive it anywhere now.

SiZT

Yes

nilrem

not hard from what i have heard. the freelander headgasket is used as its a steel one. if you can get some metal dowels, then this stops the h/gasket going too often as its the plastic ones that let the head move and fail.

HTH

3drstretch

iTrader: (1)

Which means its just not a case of whipping off the head ???

orion_crazy_carl

iTrader: (3)

just means u gotta be careful, if u move the crank the whole thing can fall apart!

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

if its got hot it might have a warped head, this will need skimming or at worst a new head

you also need to relace the bolts on these, (pretty sure you can re-use)

SiZT

The main caps thing means don't move the crank as said, also don't drop the new head bolts back in as even that can knock them out of place. Pretty simple H/G change tbh, as said Land Rover or Pagen Gasket, replace the thermostat, check the protrusion of the liners if you can. By the sounds of it the Head will have to be skimmed

dans-escort-van

if your going to leave the engine stripped down for a while whilst you get the head skimmed, cut some pieces of silicone hose to roughly the depth of the head where the head bolts go through. then put the peices of hose on the bolts and put them back in the holes and hand tighten gently.

I did this on mine for peice of mind whilst the engine was stood for a bit. just stops the caps falling off.

steves24V's

iTrader: (7)

It's pretty easy one as head gaskets go, never had any probs with the bottom end falling apart, but if you turn the crank with the head of you mite move a liner so don't do it, If theres any doubt that it needs a stat change it while the head's off cause its down the back, also deff do a water pump i've gone a few that the pump went a week after the head gasket was done do to having new a/freeze. Get a Pagen gasket and it will come with new steel dowels make sure you fit these and you should have any more probs, also a cam locking tool for k series aren't much money and makes the belt a lot easyer.

good luck.

fordghiarsxrboy

there not a bad job mate,i work for a mg/rover dealer and probably do 4,5 a month.we also sell rover spares so if you want you could have a word with the gaffer and he could tell you the best or worst case scenario price wise for the bits.as for the caps falling off,i've never had a problem but would not turn it over just to be sure

Martin Hadland

Lmao at some of the above replies

Spiky

iTrader: (1)

i had my rover (elise ) changed by a PRO

never missed a beat afterwards

great price too

3drstretch

iTrader: (1)

Any more ??

saph4be

new belt kit ,antifreeze, skim head, and change oil and filter and stat you can get a uprated head set that are better than standard ones easy to do mate too 2 hours at most (not including skimming and cleaning) if you know what you on with

tonytantrum

i always skim the heads as a mtter of coarse and always change the waterpump and the thermostat as its easier with the head off. horrible engine they always suffer from headgasket faliure hope it mixed the water in the oil rather then the oil in the water its a pig to get all the oil out of the water!

S1

I thought all the main caps were part of a cradle and therefore all integral?

mgstu

the caps cant fall off..... only issus with turning it over once head is off is you can dislodge the liners, again not the be all and end all, just breaks the sealant at the bottom of them, though its unlikely to leak even then..
liners need to be proud of the block, get them real hot and they sink, if its over heated big time head will almost certainly have gone soft, hardness test it while its off, of youll be doing it again in a few weeks.!

mgstu

S1 your right, hence they cant "fall off".. : )

coco16i

Start to finish in under 2 hours.... your having a laugh aint you !!!!

Impossible to do it in that time.

saph4be

no mate lost count how many i done i can have head off in just over 15 mins they are so easy to do just cos your slow

coco16i

Behave.... timing covers off, engine timed up, timing belt off, exhaust manifold off, inlet manifold off, all pipes off and water drained, rocker cover off, all wiring disconnected, all head bolts removed in 15 mins !!!!

saph4be

pretty much since i can my small air gun on every bolt yeah i am sure they one off the easiest heads todo i use to look aftre 45 peugeot 406 taxis guess how long i took to slip a clutch in them after i had done a few and please bear in mind i bet i have easily done 150 plus rover heads in my time

an-dy

iTrader: (2)

Is it alot harder on the mgf with the engine being in the rear?

saph4be

a bit more fiddly mate

Rab

Probably going to be easier to bin the K-Series and get a 1.8T in there!!