Head Gaskets

[ste]

I've blown a head gasket for the second time in less than two years in my 83 cabriolet. Is this common or do I just have a lemon for a motor?  Yes, I do check the water from time to time.
I'm looking for another complete motor (or car) in NZ (South Island) to recondition. Should I keep it standard or look for a T1 or T2 motor to recondition?

Ste

[Tony]

Hi Ste

Look for a Turbo to recon and drop in it.  I dropped the T1 in mine after blowing the end of an exhaust valve on the standard Cabriolet engine.  There is a bit more playing around to get the electrics sorted, but it is just sooooo much better with the Turbo in there....

Cheers

Tony ;D

[ste]

thanks for the advice. How much modifications to the car have to happen to take a turbo motor?
My local wrecker thinks that I have to change all the front end, brakes etc to make a turbo fit: is he correct ???

Ste.  8)

[Tony]

Hi ste

Mine is an 86 Cabriolet, I brought a T1 as the donor car.  The brakes on my Cabriolet were bigger so we left them in place.  The engine is no problem, I use the original cab radiator, the T1 doesn't fit.  Most of the effort is in the wiring loom, especially around the rear for the lights and the required fuel pump (you need to swap tanks and fuel systems).  You need to swap the heater boxs behind the dash, and you'll need get a new front exhaust section made (since your doing that you might as well get a 2.5 inch straight exhaust made at the same time (it makes a big difference).  And I had the aircon system removed completely (less weight, not neccessary and makes room for a decent air intake/filter)

Cheers

Tony  ;D

[ste]

Thanks Tony ;D
So I can probably  reuse all my Cabriolet Cv's etc?
Thanks for your help: all I have to do now is find a turbo car.

Stephen

[doggystyle]

ive got a whole running city turbo I with going motor etc loom,computer etc.

head gasket- did you get the head surfaced etc.?

have u run antifreeze- failure to run antifreeze in any motor will cause blown headgaskets- people who skimp on putting antifreeze in cars blow their headgaskets and wonder why.

[doggystyle]

ps im in chch! head repairs and serious mods done here! but only quality ones - no corner cutting.

[Tony]

Hi Stephen

Yep, you can keep the existing CV's, we just pulled out the drive shafts, dropped the new motor in (well, that's the short version) and then slotted the drive shafts back in, keeping all the standard front suspension, CV's etc, the only suspension component changed was that I used the heavier sway bar from the T1 and it feels a lot better with it.  If I was going to do it again, and had the cash, I'd get a mounting point added to the back of the engine for a second shaft/CV to balance the lengths of the drive shafts as sometimes the torque steer when accelerating hard can be a little much.

Cheers

Tony  ;D