Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Pulled the head off my 20XE yesterday.
Plan was to just replace the head gasket with a steel item from LMF, and replace head bolts, replace all the top end gaskets, replace timing belt and water pump.
Will get the head lightly skimmed as well.
Engine came from a 110k MK3 Astra GSI.
Is it really worth going to the time & expense of a rebuild, or will it be sound enough with the parts already mentioned.
Not really much history with the donor car, it's been stood for some time, but then again my mate picked up an XE, cleaned it up and threw it in, runs great with no issues.
Thoughts?
[Edited on 28-06-2010 by Archie]
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am4nf
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Registered: 27th Jul 08
Location: South Ayrshire Drives: Corsa Sport
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Batter it in
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jibjob
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Registered: 6th Apr 08
Location: Elworth, Cheshire
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Its your choice mate. You could rebuild it all and have the peace of mind knowing that its good for a long time to come or you could just chuck it in and risk it. Personally if it was me id rebuild all of it just so i know it was sound for a while to come.
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Am in 2 minds at the moment.
It's not like i'd go out and buy a redtop astra/cav then rip the engine out and rebuild it, probably just do a belt & waterpump.....
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Linch
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Registered: 4th May 06
Location: Whickham, Tyne and Wear
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Chuck it in, if its pony then rebuild it.
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Chadicles
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Registered: 8th Jun 09
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire
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Yea chuck it in mate! if it lets go you can just rebuild it better imo
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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Chuck it in, rebuild it if you find out its a dog.
If your putting it in yourself you will be able to pull it back out easy.
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Rob-e91
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Registered: 11th May 09
Location: South Wales
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I'd say definately take the valves out de-coke them change the stem seals and then grind them back in, i'd also change the rings while the heads off, because you'll only end up taking the head back off in the near future to do so and then you'll need to buy another headset. 
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Some sound advice, thanks everyone.
I'll be fitting it myself yes, and doing all work to the engine except the head skim.
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connollygt30
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Registered: 16th Nov 08
Location: West Lothian
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Has it got the cams you mentioned?
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philip2
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Registered: 1st Oct 06
Location: n.wales/chester
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do rings and stem seals? if doing rings you may aswel do big ends/mains, then waterpump, belt kit, need sump set and headset, so its as good as a rebuild.
dont put a metal gasket on, fit the stock goetze gasket safe to 300bhp and i rate them far higher than the cheapy metal ones besides using a cometic.
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Location: South Ayrshire
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quote:
Originally posted by connollygt30
Has it got the cams you mentioned?
Nope  First thing i done as soon as i got the engine to mine was checked the cams and opened the ECU, cams = standard, ECU = standard.
I didnt really believe the guy anyway i just humoured him, would have been a pleasant surprise !
But the engine cost me £0 so i dont care 
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connollygt30
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Registered: 16th Nov 08
Location: West Lothian
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quote:
Originally posted by Archie
quote:
Originally posted by connollygt30
Has it got the cams you mentioned?
Nope First thing i done as soon as i got the engine to mine was checked the cams and opened the ECU, cams = standard, ECU = standard.
I didnt really believe the guy anyway i just humoured him, would have been a pleasant surprise !
But the engine cost me £0 so i dont care
The usual mate,pub talk strikes again 
I wasnt going to rebuild mine untill i noticed the stem seals then it came about the head needed a bit of work as you will see in my project thread,bottom end will not be getting touched though
[Edited on 28-06-2010 by connollygt30]
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Aye, guy that i bought the Astra from was a bit of a bam so would probably believe anything he was told !
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connollygt30
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Registered: 16th Nov 08
Location: West Lothian
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Whens yours going in?
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Dont know, i've got my ecotec plate, twag loom, and i stripped the top end etc off it last night.
Was hoping to have it in for SMC but funds have dried up a bit with general living.
Job interview tomorrow so fingers crossed i get it and can get back on with it.
Would like it to be in for the beginning of August so i can run it for couple weeks, MOT is due mid August & tax is due at the end of August.
Would like to run it for a few weeks then SORN it for winter to get the rest of it sorted out.
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connollygt30
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Registered: 16th Nov 08
Location: West Lothian
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Mines will be going away for the winter,last winter knocked fuck out of it
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Jack1.6valver
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Registered: 4th Jan 08
Location: Fife
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I'd at least buy a bit of gringo, head set and whack all new seals,gaskets on and re-grind and clean your valves.Fire up a harry jeeber and set about the head giving it a bit of tlc for a couple of nights or days whenever you have free time,pays off in the end.Probably a timing belt for safes sake aswell. 
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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Yeah as said in my original post i'll be doing the belt/waterpump and headgasket.
Be going away for winter to get the paintwork seen to, want to make it immaculate, will be less work in the long run.
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connollygt30
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Registered: 16th Nov 08
Location: West Lothian
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Autovaux are cheap for bits,got all my XE bits off them
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Jack1.6valver
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Registered: 4th Jan 08
Location: Fife
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I like what i hear,problem with having and immaculate car is trying to keep it that way,roads in this country dont do us any favours. Scared of what will become of mine after a year or so on the road or what will be coming out of my pocket!
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Jack1.6valver
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Registered: 4th Jan 08
Location: Fife
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Auto vaux are the shit. A*+,order it and the next day its at your door.
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Limecat
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quote:
Originally posted by Jack1.6valver
I'd at least buy a bit of gringo, head set and whack all new seals,gaskets on and re-grind and clean your valves.Fire up a harry jeeber and set about the head giving it a bit of tlc for a couple of nights or days whenever you have free time,pays off in the end.Probably a timing belt for safes sake aswell.
Can I have that in English please?
If you mean to take a dremel or something to it then don't.
There is a World of difference between someone who knows what they are doing and someone who just opens everything up.
Even the latter can feel faster as they completely fuck up the flow of the head, so the dynamics gives you a 'kick' making it feel faster than it was even though it can be well down on most of the rev range.
That's why a decent head from someone like Dave Andrews who originally did the head on my Elise engine would set you back over a grand. Forget the cost of the head, that's just to work on your existing one, that isn't buying one outright.
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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I wont be taking a dremel to any of the ports or the like.
I am pretty much a time served mechanic, but when it comes to porting, skimming etc i'll just pay the man who has the knowledge & experience.
Aye i've used Autovaux before so will probably get most of the stuff if not all of it from them
[Edited on 28-06-2010 by Archie]
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Jack1.6valver
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Registered: 4th Jan 08
Location: Fife
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quote:
Originally posted by LETGSI16V
quote:
Originally posted by Jack1.6valver
I'd at least buy a bit of gringo, head set and whack all new seals,gaskets on and re-grind and clean your valves.Fire up a harry jeeber and set about the head giving it a bit of tlc for a couple of nights or days whenever you have free time,pays off in the end.Probably a timing belt for safes sake aswell.
Can I have that in English please?
No you cant. Didnt mention anything about ports or dremels.
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