1994 850 wagon 2.4lt. auto, blown head gasket

andyfontaine1972 · Post by **andyfontaine1972** » 11 Jul 2008, 11:40

miles approx 160K,
first, hole in radiator, replaced raditator and BAD thermostat.
went for test drive, within 10 miles, sudden burst of white smoke out of tail pipe. knocking and stalling of engine, no restart.

Now water in oil, no start, I'm sure at least blown head gasket, I'm going to attempt removing head,

How does one make the neccesary special tool reguire?

How does one know if the bottom end of engine is toast?

thanks for the response...
andy

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 11 Jul 2008, 11:46

If you are able to remove the head, you can look at the top of the pistons and see if you have any damage there (broken rings, burned pistons, gouged cylinder walls). Have someone turn the engine while looking and you can see if you've lost a rod (one or more piston(s) won't move while others do). The next thing would be to pull the oil pan and look up from the bottom and check rod bearings and main bearings.

I don't believe you need any special tools, but I am not sure.

andyfontaine1972 · Post by **andyfontaine1972** » 11 Jul 2008, 12:07

thanks turbotim2, yeah some kind of tools for holding the cams in place when you remove the head. I've seen a tread about this but never seen insturction on how to make.

thanks for the botton end advice, sond like a good plan.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 Jul 2008, 13:14

You really don't need anything special to remove the head but you will need to lock the cams when you put it back on. The Haynes manual shows how to line the cams up and lock them down.

Take some spray paint and paint the face of the cam sprockets around the three bolts before you remove them. The cams are adjustable and by painting the face of the sprocket you will have alignment marks to get them back in the same position when you put them back on.

...Lee

andyfontaine1972 · Post by **andyfontaine1972** » 11 Jul 2008, 14:59

Thanks Lee, aprreciate all the help I can get.
I just got the car back into the driveway, so I'll be starting the process today.

So The cams don't fall out coming out -- Just when you put it back you have to line them up and lock them down with some kinda device?

Does the head come out in two pieces or one?

thanks again

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 Jul 2008, 15:24

It comes out in two pieces, it splits more or less at the centerline of the cams. Be sure to put the motor on #1 Top Dead Center and remove the timing belt before you start taking off the head.

If you don't have a Haynes manual you need to get one. There is a British version pinned at the top of the page. Here is a link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/105672618/H ... 2_-_96.zip

...Lee

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 11 Jul 2008, 16:49

Also, if you can turn the engine without removing the head you can pull the spark plugs and use a wooden dowel to check to see if each piston moves. Sounds like you are pulling the head anyway, so maybe a moot point...

-Chuck

andyfontaine1972 · Post by **andyfontaine1972** » 11 Jul 2008, 22:29

thanks chuck,
Yea I guess I'll get to see all that when I get the head off.
I spent a few hours getting most of the stuff out of the way in order to pull the head, marks all lined up, timing belt off but not out, Do you have to remove the pulley from the crank case to get the belt out or what, man I can't seem to get it between the crank and the block????
still have to do the exhaust manifold too.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 12 Jul 2008, 06:38

Do you have to remove the pulley from the crank case to get the belt out or what, man I can't seem to get it between the crank and the block????

You just have to futz with it, it will thread out but it is tight. Since you alrealy have the belt off I don't think I would try to remove the harmonic balancer at this stage. I would certainly replace the belt as a part of this job since they are so cheap.

...Lee

andyfontaine1972 · Post by **andyfontaine1972** » 13 Jul 2008, 14:45

ok, thanks, i found a thread on this site from a long time ago. the person had some great instructions. take to right side down and out first the the left side. came off and went back on great.
this sure is an awesome site.

thanks for you info.