Bugger... Head Gasket Time

[optimax sniffer]

Cerb is currently at Forza West having the Head Gaskets done. I think I got it a bit warm at Goodwood in June. No poor running yet, so hopefully not much else will be found.

One of the Nitrons is also on its way out so they will come off the car for overhaul at Nitron

Ah well,

[itiejim]

Arse indeed - fingers crossed for you come bill time

[itiejim]

Might be worth a look at these - they look to be good quality and normally retail at about £120 each.

I'm not linked to the seller btw!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tvr-Cerbera-AJP-V8-Head-...

[Gazzab]

It is probably just a rotten gasket? I think they will start to rust and rot after a year or two before eventually giving in..?

[Mr Cerbera]

My wallet bleeds for you, Sir

[optimax sniffer]

Gazzab said:

It is probably just a rotten gasket? I think they will start to rust and rot after a year or two before eventually giving in..?

Could be hadn't thought about that. The car occasionally gives out a few puffs of steam, and then is fine for a week or two.

First set of gaskets have arrived in the post from Power, unfortunately they were bent.

[Davrianman]

Serves you right for driving too fast! Now when I looked after her, it was gently round the corners and never more than 1/8 throttle..... You Hooligan! :-)

[amazon]

Hi Iain - I have 'one' side if that helps? (Well you never know - someone might have the other side redudant! ).

Oh and it's the drivers side. Flat. And complete with the little rubber 'O' ring.

[mikeinsheffield]

Arse indeed.

My head gasket went a couple of months ago - turns out was a faulty temp sensor that meant that the cooling didn't kick in - overheated and blew the nearside head gasket and also slightly warped the head. Could not f'in believe that to change a head gasket means an engine out job (arse of a design). And what an expense that was.

The guys at RaceProved did the work for me, skimmed head, remapped due to slightly increased compression, at same time 12K service, and also replaced the heat sheilds whilst in there. Thankfully all chassis in good condition in engine bay (phew !).

However - the MAJOR unexpected expense (and sadly unhideable from SWMBO) has meant I've seriously fallen out of love with the Cerb at the moment....... Now I know these are expensive cars to run, those who've followed my prevous posts know that I've pretty much had a "whatever it takes, money no object" to try and get my Cerb as close to Cerb-perfection as possible, and I've also swallowed some major previous bills (new clutch, gearbox recondition, uprated shocks / headlights / ICE / new carpets / etc-bloody-etc). However, having to pay for a bloody engine in and out for what I'd consider to be a relatively simple job (head gasket) and also after spending a bloody fortune on the car, ..... well sadly it's just sat in the garage under it's cover on the battery charger.

I've just lost the heart for any more expenditure on the bloody thing for now, I know there's still a couple of minor jobs that still need sorting (on full lock my wider tyres just catching the pre-oiler kit; need new front speakers to go with uprated ICE) but just can't be bothered driving it now as it will inevitably mean more expense......

Sorry for the moan and highjack of thread - just having had that big bill it's taken some of the shine of Cerb ownership off. I'll prob feel different given an oportunity for a clear (dry) winters day blast - but thinking maybe it'll be Spring when I try to rekindle the love affair.....

Optimax: hope that you don't have similar dint to your affections once you are presented with the (inevitably large) bill.......

[spongy]

my mate has just done a chassis refurb ect on his e-type jag,3 days after its finished his head gasket has gone,in temper he damaged the bonnet and now says he will leave it in the garage till next summer,he has spent mega bucks on this car.

[schimg]

Just picked this up Iain

Sorry to learn that you are having a "moment", hope you get it sorted as soon as and with out too much hitting of the wallet..

Good luck with it, I will keep an eye on this see how it pans out.

[optimax sniffer]

I'm going past Forza on saturday, so will go and have a nose

[ttmr]

Frightened to ask,but what sort of cost is a head gasket likely to be( I know other things will often arise)?

[optimax sniffer]

ttmr said:

Frightened to ask,but what sort of cost is a head gasket likely to be( I know other things will often arise)?

The estimate for the gaskets only, is about £550 inc parts

[Gazzab]

550 for gaskets, does that include engine in and out and cleaning up surfaces? Even if it excludes engine in and out that must mean that they are effectively doing it for free at that price!

[optimax sniffer]

I thought it was cheap too. Whilst they are in there, they are also looking at chassis / paint protection, heat shield, fuel pipes, water pipes etc

It will probably double, hope not though

[Gazzab]

Wow that really is about a 3rd of what it normally costs assuming its a simple engine out, no skimming, no head cleaning etc
I really am amazed. My blown gasket is going to cost me nearer £7k!

[FarmyardPants]

What's the latest on yours Gazza, feeling the love again yet?

[Gazzab]

FarmyardPants said:

What's the latest on yours Gazza, feeling the love again yet?

No love - am looking to get the engine back asap in a box and mothball/sell/repair and move out of TVRs. Another £7K will just move me further outta love.

[DuncanM]

Hmmm, £500 sounds way to low, considering the gaskets alone won't leave you much change from £200.

I would expect to pay a garage at least 1k for engine in/out, and then around £500 in parts/skimming etc.

Gazzab, 7k is way too much surely? Your Cerbera is a great example and shouldn't need any extra work on top of fixing the fault?

Have you shopped around for other quotes?

Mikeinsheffield, any chance of a ballpark figure of how much you paid and what you got for the money?