Price for 3sgte headgasket?

[GT4-Addict]

a mate has just off loaded his old 3sgte engine onto (literally) my doorstep, for the sole reason of it having a blown headgasket.

Can anyone tell me the cheapest place around to get a headgasket kit for one? i think its the gen 2, it came out of a st185 gt4 celica.

I think i will put a new headgasket on it, get the head crack tested and checked to make sure it doesnt need skimmed, and prehaps save it up for some sort of project!

[Dell'Orto]

TGP one is probably quite reasonable, email the forum sponsor.

[iOnic]

Try and get a Gen3 one if you can

[GT4-Addict]

Is there no difference at all?

[Malcolm]

the gen 3 one is a metal layer gasket, and it has different openings for coolant flow between the block and head. I'm using one on my gen 2 and with probably 30,000km I am yet to see any ill effects. You do, however, need to do a much better job of prepping the head and block. Realistically, you will probably need them both skimmed unless the block is in really good nick.

With the composite type gaskets you can get away with much poorer mating surfaces, provided they are both flat.

[Malcolm]

in fact, here's a pic of my old stock gen 2 vs a new gen 3 one


pics a bit big, but this is the gasket on top of a gen 2 block
http://fasterthanjesus.net/sw11/gen3hg.jpg

[GT4-Addict]

hmmm i like that, quite easy to skim the block too while its out of the car. Could do this and drop the engine into my current gt4, call it future proofing haha. i might get a price for both, i dont really want to be spending all that much on it if possible

[Malcolm]

I think I paid about $60 for each skimming operation. Doing the block without pulling the crank/pistons is a bit risky, but mine was done without disassembly and has held up fine.

[GT4-Addict]

Id be pulling them out anyway, its just sitting in my garage on a couple of old tyres at the moment, so its not exactly hard work to do it properly. Im trying to talk myself into a full rebuild, but i dont know where ill find the cash! anyone know of any decent part time jobs in dunedin that will fit around my course? haha!

[GT4-Addict]

Just wondering if it is even worth replacing the headgasket in it. I was talking to another mate who reckons that after they blow a headgasket they damage the metal in the head, causing it to occur over and over again, even if you have the head skimmed. Ideas?

[Boosted_162]

Just wondering if it is even worth replacing the headgasket in it. I was talking to another mate who reckons that after they blow a headgasket they damage the metal in the head, causing it to occur over and over again, even if you have the head skimmed. Ideas?

If they get overheated the heads can go soft, and seems to be an issue with them. However BHG does not mean the head is soft. As long as you get a the head tested for hardness it will be fine.

[GT4-Addict]

Will do. any idea on the price for a good quality 2nd hand head? might have a buyer for the motor already if i fix it up properly, so may be able to afford to put a new head on it!

[GT4-Addict]

Will do. any idea on the price for a good quality 2nd hand head? might have a buyer for the motor already if i fix it up properly, so may be able to afford to put a new head on it!

[iOnic]

$2-300 seems fair. Beware most of them are soft due to overheating though.

[Boosted_162]

$2-300 seems fair. Beware most of them are soft due to overheating though.

Yeah, theres a reason they are being sold seperately

[loudstealthGT-Four]

Ive got a gen2 head sitting in my garage, its been hardness tested and crack tested and its all good. Bought it off "Anth_555" on here for when i was going to rebuild my 3sgte, but found a replacement motor instead. So if you do end up needing a head just give me a pm

[GT4-Addict]

Awesome man, will do. your just down in invas too so if i need it its easy to blast down and pick it up!

[Heylin]

gen 3 head gasket is $166 from toyota