Head Gasket Job

You really need to find out why it wont start first off and then run one of these tests once its running:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FX-53-HEAD-GASKET-BLOCK-...

Pulling the exhaust manifold of is a pain as spanner access is so poor around the manifold headers, so you really dont want to pull the heads off unless you are 100% sure you have to. Other symptoms of a blown gasket are air bubbles in the swirl tank when the engine is running , or the cooling system becoming pressurised more than normal- also steam / water in the exhaust outlet.

I'm completely out of my depth but the other thread says comp test needs doing on hot engine? If it were me I'd be looking at getting it to a specialist - on a trailer if necessary - to get it running and to do a comp test and gas in water test before pulling the heads, even with existing water loss.
Cost me well under £100 each way to get mine from manc to Chesterfield after I bought it and it was money well spent.
It'd be a heck of a lot of hassle to find there's nowt wrong with the gaskets and the heaters been leaking instead.

Thanks guys and yes oil into the bores to see if it's the rings. I have an invoice from circa 2001 or 2002 when Alex Roebuck the first owner had new rings fitted @ circa 30,000 miles I think.

Anyone recommend a specialist in the Sth East I can trailer the beast to ? I'm out of my depth trying to diagnose what's wrong. Not having the use of it over my Bithday And this time of the year is driving me nuts.....but thank god I still have the old M3 for some hooning !

Hello Tv thanks for your reply, such a pain the manifolds have to come off first, particularly the right one as those bolts are such a pain to get to ! I've just had my local garage replace the gaskets on that side as well, but at least that should make them easier to undo !

Re a slipped liner, yes it's been mentioned that a liner could have dropped, but just 102 psi in one cyl on the right bank does mean something isn't right.
She has felt a little down on power recently as well and has used a little water since a hose burst in 2010 and the rad went in 2011.

Hey Ian, do you remember this little thread last year:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=139...

I never used them but Turner Engineering looked like a good bet and they are in Surrey so can't be a million miles from you. If it's really head gasket/ slipped liner then perhaps you should just get it done and they look like they offer the works. I did chat to them at the time and they seemed very helpful and knowledgeable. Not sure whether they will take your engine out for you but worth a call.

I'm back from the 'back of beyond' for the next 5 weeks. I'm in Berkshire so if you need some moral support to stop you flogging your Griff then let me know (subject of another thread) - it would be a big mistake and you would regret it later. Pete

Thanks for the advise, Griff is Essex, so ideally someone Essex or East London, but Norfolk isn't too bad.

Any one on here have an "ECU mate " which may diagnose why it won't start ?

Lots of other cars on the go atm, so the Griff is now low priority, for the time being, but I keep thinking that if it was that quick with 4 cylinders having low compressions.....just how quick will it be with healthy compressions !!