HeadGasket Finally Gone :(

[mattiegreen 10]

Hi all,

 

Newbie to the forum and sorry for the first post to be a sad one. My beloved Corrado Vr6 has finally met it's maker and looks like the headgasket has gone. The interior and exterior is very good on the car so the question is to all who have undergone a headgasket replacement roughly how much did it cost you all to get done (I did do a quick search but in my upset histerical state lol couldn't see much which I know I will of missed some very helpfull threads). I know obviously things can go wrong or crop up while doing the change but a ball part figure and list of what should be done if I proceed with it would be appreciated to anyone who has the knowledge out there.

So sad about it love the car to pieces :(

 

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

Mattie

[captainredeye 0]

Dude getting it fixed is cheaper than buying another one plus you know it's done, if it's your beloveded then no expenses should be spared! Price wise gasket and head bolts 130 queen sheets there may be other stuff to be replaced labour is the main thing which I can't comment on but some one will pipe up other wise have a word with your garage.

[mattiegreen 10]

I know mate but it's my daily driver and am struggling without wheels and well it's going to be quite a big job getting it done. Do I put a blanket over it and hide it away. The chap who has looked at it said it would be roughly 24hrs in total labour wise if not more and thats as ong as there is nothign else that needs doing :( boo hoo here she is inher former glory

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69728[/ATTACH]

[Patrick101 0]

An old friend of mine got head gasket replaced and new timing chains and tensioners/clutch for £1250 about 2-3 years ago. 24 hours labour is a joke! 6-7 hours by a competent mechanic is more like it. My local mechanic could prob do it for £400-£500 based on labour of £25+VAT an hour he's an ex VW/Audi specialist. Aberdeens probably it bit far though!

[mattiegreen 10]

Oh dang why can't I be up North, Mlton Keynes is a bit of a trek with a poorly car :(Good to know it's not 24hrs worth of labour then. I've not hunted around for parts for a corrado before but I take it there going to be challenging to get.

[Patrick101 0]

AVS Car parts or Dubpower I've used before both been really good. AVS tends to be more on the value end of things.

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/corrado_gaskets.php

[mattiegreen 10]

Mate that is sooo helpful thank you so much

[Supercharged 2]

I think Stealth do the clutch, chains and HG for around £1500 - should be less than an hour away from you

[mattiegreen 10]

Cracking cheers Supercharged. Is it recommended to replace all of those while doing the job, I take it while it's stripped down do it at the same time as it's easier accsesibilty. Is there anything else worth looking to change / replace while it's in this state?

 

Just looking for Stealth on the internet but not having much luck do you have a website for them?

[VW_OwneR_85 1]

this might be food for thought but if it was me i would consider getting another vr6 engine as i dont know anything about engine building, they can be had for around £300 on ebay, as daunting as it sounds an engine swap isnt that hard, can be done on the week end with a m8 or by yourself.

[Supercharged 2]

http://www.stealthracing.co.uk

[Jim 2]

http://www.stealthracing.co.uk

 

Worth getting the chains and clutch done as Steve says at the same time but, if you're on a budget, absolutely not essential.

[mattiegreen 10]

Cracking cheers for all the information guys I really appreciate it. Regarding the replacement engine I did think about this but it's one of those you don't know what state the engine your putting in is like.

[Johnny H 0]

Hay mate.

Did you know it was going??

If so what was the signs you got??

Just thought min could be going that's all.

Thanks

[mattiegreen 10]

Had no idea it had mate to be honest. Had no symptoms ie white smoke or heistation. Compression tests were fine, no water int he oil and vice versa, heaters were and are still blowing hot. A garage that have it think it's a hairline crack in the head now :(

My original radiator basically fell to pieces and the old expansion tank was leaking frmo the seam so had to get another one so the next part is basically me thinking it's since then. Basically the water light kept coming on, i'd fill it up and then after 2 drives maybe more it would ping on again and the water level would be low. Really odd it was as if there was air in the system still. So did the usual ran the car with heaters on full until it was hot with the expansion cap off and then all of asudden the water would drain, the car never ever over heated and then suddenly the water abnd more came back into the expansion tank and overflowed. Still can't get my head aruond it now to be honest.

One time I drove from home to work only 15 mins the light came on but then when I got back in the car after being at work for an hour the light never came on and the water was back.

Can;t explain it really mate as it is just well odd but it is what it is I guess.

[Wendy 0]

Give Vince at Stealth a call.

 

He will go through it all and hopefully put your mind at rest and advice you best way to go bearing in mind your finances too. Just be honest with him, so he can help.

 

Loads of us use Stealth on here, he occasionaly works on other cars, but usually the garage is full of Corrado's.

 

Seeing as you are from MK, look forward to catching up with you at one of the Monthly Evening Meets too ? !!!

[Johnny H 0]

That is odd mate.

Thing with mine is that when it gets hot I can hear something bubbling in the bay.

Hopes its nothing.

Going to get it looked at next week.

Thanks for getting back to me mate

[mattiegreen 10]

Your welcome Johnny H, Wendy thank you so much I will give Vince a call and hope he can help me out. I'll defo come to a monthly evening meet, where do I found out about that, I'll bring my poorly car along :(