Has anybody successfully changed the headgasket on their CA in the engine bay of a 1200 before?

I know it could be done but there is so much stuff you need to pull off that I'm starting to think I should have just pulled the motor and done it on an engine stand.

How much stuff have other people stripped off their heads to get it off?

Did you use new head bolts?

I imagine (having not had to do it yet) - that if you removed the manifolds and the loom - then you could remove the head without pulling the whole motor.

Need new manifold gaskets as well I guess then.

I think it would be pretty hard to lift the head with all the fuel & other hoses as well of wiring conected...

i took my engine out, coz how are u gonna undo the bolt heater pipes and that which are behind the engine?

also i just left my manifolds connected to the engine

yes.. use new headbolts, always

Im in the process of replacing the head gasket now.
Im doing mine on the engine stand - and after removing everything needed to get to the gasket, couldn't imagine doing it with it in the car!

I will be using new head bolts also. (well, studs actually)

The only downside is - I got to have a good look at the bores... slight scoring... So an overbore will make room for some new forgies.
May as well put some 'H' beam rods in while I'm at it as it will be apart anyway.
Then I won't have to take it out again for a while.


But... $$$$ (that's the downside) - It means it won't be on the road even longer now.

So how is it going Dave?

Need a hand?

blob theres no need to put new H rods, ca's have friggen strong rods, cant handle around 300hp all people do it get them harded if u wanna go more then 300hp, no need to waste 500bucks for no reason man,

thats more money towards the T04 HAHA

It's going ok, however I'm beginning to think that the less you know the better!

I've got the head off waiting to send it away on monday to get ground and pressure tested. It looks like the gasket was slowly disintegrating between the water gallery on the exhaust side of cylinder 1 and the outside of the block. There is no signs of water in oil or vice versa which is a good thing in terms of preserving the bottom end.

BUT I've discovered a light scoring mark in cylinder number 4 which could mean a few things; cracked ring, cracked ring land or cracked piston skirt. Or what I'm hoping is that something foreign went through the motor and left it's mark!

Either way it's not getting fixed as I've got 3 weeks before racing at PI and no chance of a bottom end reco before then. Atleast I know now to plan for a full reco in the near future.

On a positive note I found I stuck an incorrect exhaust gasket on it when I last had the turbo off which was covering about 1/3 of the port
That will atleast be worth a few hp when I put the correct gasket on.

Sometimes it's just better not knowing!

Thats exactly where my old head gasket started to go.
What type of gasket are you replacing it with?
Did you decide to get new bolts or studs?

My bores were slightly scored too (couldn't feel them by touch) but could see clearly.