I just purchased an 88 240 192K miles w/ (per a local garage) a blown head gasket. It starts easily; runs and drive OK; misses at idle. Smoke and coolant droplets come out of the exhaust. The radiator also leaks. The garage did a "pressure test" on the cooling system and diagnosed the head gasket. perhaps they checked compression also.

I have an 87 & an 86 parts car. My choices are: 1) remove the head, get it surfaced, replace; 2) remove the head from the 88 and swap in a head from a parts car; 3) replace the motor.

I've never had a head gasket go. I've read about several here. Seems like a lot of work to replace one and given the cost of resurfacing and a gasket set it would be cheaper to swap the motor.

I think either the 86or 87 motor will bolt in.

Recommendations/ comments?
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

I would not go to the work of replacing an engine with 192k on it, unless I had reason to suspect it had been abused.

I would wait until I had the head off and got a straight edge on it before making the decision as to whether to refinish or replace it. Also pour a little fuel into each port after you flip the head over and check the seal on the valve seats. I am always a bit cautious of shaving overhead cam heads.

Of course, this would be a good time to replace the timing belt and oil seals, and perhaps the belt tensioner if you don't know how old they are.

I replaced the head gasket on my '91 last year. The hardest part was getting the head bolts loose. It took a 1/2" breaker bar with cheater pipe on it. I broke a Snap-On 6 point socket.

My problem was just the common #3 cylinder passenger side water leak, so I knew the head was OK. I slapped on a new head gasket and didn't even check it.

Thanks, good comments.

Funny, but to me it seems like more work to do the head - than to replace the engine. I think I could do the engine swap more quickly. I've done so many that it's easy for me.

I do have a lift so that's a factor.

The head seems like a lot of fussy work only to perhaps find that the head needs to be resurfaced. Then I've got cost of the gaskets, seals etc.

And perhaps the previous owner did overheat it so there's block, valve, piston, cam, etc damage.

Maybe I'll pull the head on the 88 and see what it looks like. Be worth seeing 1st hand just what work is involved.

Oh, you said you wouldn't replace an engine w/ 192K miles on it. Because it's low miles for a 240? I agree somewhat. My old 245 (now a parts car) has 345. it's the condition here that concerns me: i don't know how it ran before and/ or if it was overheated. Previous owner was driving it and it started to smoke.

Anyway, I've had great 240s w/ 250K+ and junky ones w/ ~120K. it's all in the maintenance and operation.

Thanks again.




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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

The tools you have at your disposal are a major factor. For most of us, pulling an engine is a major ordeal, even with a rented picker.

With regard to level of difficulty, given a choice between a head replacement and front struts, I would do the head. The down-side of doing a head is taking it to a shop for resurfacing if necessary, and waiting for it.

Up to you, but when I bought (it was very cheap) my '89 it had a blown head gasket and it wasn't that much work in my opinion. If it is the first one you have ever attempted, you might consider it a pretty big job. The head gasket set wasn't that expensive and I sprung for new stretch bolts as well. While I had the head out, I also replaced the valve seals, checked valve lash, replaced the hushers, the rubber plug on the back and the front cam seal. All worth doing and makes it a better engine. I would fix the head that's on there now, if it isn't any good than chose another, but I think that block probably has a lot more miles left in it.
Charles

Thanks for your advice.

The issue (per my previous reply) is how badly it was overheated - and to some extent the condition of the motor beforehand.

But I'm being persuaded that I should at least pull the head for a look. If I then decide to swap the engine, OK, not much lost.

"stretch bolts" = head bolts?

Thanks again.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Yes, the head bolts are what they call "stretch bolts" because that what they do when tightened down properly. They are really only supposed to be used a limited number of times, like no more than 2 or 3 times at most and then new ones should be used. I feel more comfortable fixing what I have, when it comes to a simple issue like a head gasket (as opposed to a serious engine issue, like main bearings,etc) than swapping in an engine with perhaps it's own set of problems. Tearing into it is the best way to learn about your engine.
Charles

Changing the head is less work but it is not without risks. I swapped out the severely warped head on my 93 and while it works much better, it is not quite right. I am wishing I had and may still swap in a known good engine.

Thanks Jessie. Did you do the work yourself? What's wrong with it - just doesn't run right?

I do have a good engine (w/ trans still on it) so I might just pull the unit and see. The AC is a pan but otherwise an easy job.

I think I'll pull the head 1st though.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

The A/C shouldn't be a problem---there is usually enough slack in the hoses that you can unbolt the compressor from its mountings, swing it out of the way, tie it up with baling wire, swap the engine, and reinstall it, all without disconnecting anything.

It seems to me that it would make sense to pull the head off of the original engine, in order to better evaluate its condition. The big question is how long the previous owner ran it with the blown gasket, and if it was ever seriously overheated (if so, the head is likely to be warped) If you find any serious issues, go ahead and swap in your other engine, assuming you know it to be in good running condition.

If you swap engines, you will want to replace all the timing belt, its tensioner, and all the oil seals, which will probably end up cosing more than a head gasket set. Of course, a new T-belt, tensioner and three front seals would be a good idea if you're replacing the head gasket on the original engine....

No I didn't do the work. I have 2 young children, so I didn't have the time required to do it myself. I got this car used and cheap so the history of my engine is unknown. I do know that someone tried to use a sealant to compensate for a warped head and that resulted in the blocks coolant passages getting blocked. Thats why it was a bit of a gamble. It actually works ok, but there still seems to be a hot spot in the head that is causing a temp sensor error, and it is still leaking oil off the top end somewhere. I am expecting the used head to warp if it has not already.

I just meant that if you don't know much about the engine (like in my case) it is a bit of a gamble.

OK, thanks. I think I understand your point and if so that's my position too: I have an engine (a couple actually) that I know runs well. I just bought a car that I don't know, which overheated (Some? A little? A lot?) and has a compression leak that is putting coolant into the exhaust and is pressuring the cooling system (causing at least 2 leaks).

I'm going to pull the head on the new engine - partly to see what's involved in doing that, partly to assess the damage. Unless it's easy and the damage is minimal I will install the other motor anyway.

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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

It is considerably less work to swap heads than to swap engines.

Randy

Thanks. For me an engine swap seems much (much, much) easier: I have a lift, I've done it many times. Most important: I have a couple of good engines and I don't really know the condition of this one.

But, I think I'll pull the head and see for my self.

I've done OHC cars before and all the alignment and adjustment work takes time but maybe it'll seem more reasonable after I get the head off.

Thanks again.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

I have sent you an email with an attached file that you may find helpful in reference to rehabbing a red block head.

Randy

Got it, thanks Randy. Great detail.

I'm going to pull the head - maybe tomorrow - for inspection. aftger that we'll see.

If i do it your guide will be awesome. But reading it, yeah, it looks easier to swap the engine.

Thanks much.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

The current engine runs well. Just me, but starting with that I'd rather unbolt the head and replace the gasket rather than pulling an engine.