Rep Power: 0

hey guys im new to the civic thing just tryin to get started i just purchased a 92 hatch with a d15b8 in it... the head gasket needs to be replaced and i was wondering if it is worth trying to save money and do it myself or if it would just be easier to take it somewhere to get done.... let me know.... thanks in advance

 
Rep Power: 811

its a huge huge job. if you are not very good working on cars, i would have a shop do it. $500 is the average price. you will need the new gaskets (head, intake mani, and header), oil, coolant, 10 new head bolts at $10 a piece, and some other misc supplies like valve cover gasket and if you want a new timing belt and water pump since they will be easy to change with everything ripped apart. a ton of stuff has to come off just to get to the head, then you need to know the proper bolt torques and tightening sequences to put it back on, not to mention the head needs to be taken to a machine shop to test its compression and also clean it up and see if its warped. it may need to be resurfaced. otherwise all the work will be for nothing and the new gasket will leak again.

 
Rep Power: 0

the water pump and timing belt was just done by the previous owner and he also had the valve cover gasket was just redone too and he also had the head ported and polished... im not saying i want to do it at home but the only reason i even thought about it was because i saw a write up on an eg forum that showed picture by picture how to do it but i will def take your word on it... a friend of mine that owns a shop said hed do it for $200....thanks for the response

 
Rep Power: 811

yeah for that price, just have him do it. the valve cover gasket still needs to be replaced every time the cover comes off otherwise it will leak. its a stretch gasket and will not seal properly a second time. its only maybe $20 at the auto store.