Overheat coolant - SD25 D21 1987 Nissan

[after oil]

the o-ring i left out.. and the parts list from the gasket set:

which is the o-ring?

[asavage]

I don't know which it is on the list, but it's shown in the assembly view of the 1985 SD25 FSM, page EM-35 figure SEM060A. Whilst only one ring is shown, the text says,

"Securely install rubber rings into water and oil holes."

[asavage]

the crack . . . look between the valve seats.

That's rather odd looking. I hope that's a pic before the head work was performed; those valves do not look very well cleaned up.

and still no discussion regarding the re-use of steel head gasket?

I'm kind of burned out on the topic -- I've said my piece. If it's mated to very clean surfaces that are flat, I would re-use it, since the engine was not run and it is not a gasket that is compressed appreciably in service, and you are reusing it on exactly the same surfaces the second time.

[after oil]

That's rather odd looking. I hope that's a pic before the head work was performed; those valves do not look very well cleaned up.

no, thats after. the head is wet with wd-40 or something

I'm kind of burned out on the topic -- I've said my piece. If it's mated to very clean surfaces that are flat, I would re-use it, since the engine was not run and it is not a gasket that is compressed appreciably in service, and you are reusing it on exactly the same surfaces the second time.

sorry... al, your the only person to comment on the fact that my gasket is steel. so i was hoping once that came to light the others might have a different perspective.

[asavage]

I think Galen is probably the only person reading this who has -- thus far -- actually had the head off his SD. I haven't (yet). The generic advice given is good: don't re-use a composition gasket that has been torqued. I just don't think that that advice applies to a non-composition gasket.

[REDNECK]

so .......what's it gonna be then? you already have my 2cent's....risk, or no risk?

[pbknowles]

I have had the head off mine. I would go for re-using the gasket. You can pull the head again in two hours tops, you are not out anything but your time if it doesn't work. If it wasn't such an easy head to pull I might not recommend it, but what the heck......

[after oil]

ok... i did it.. i reused the gasket. now i can take off and replace a head, ive done it so many times. (in the interem, just for fun, i did it on a '77 corolla i have)

i'm just waiting for a friend to come over w/ a torque wrench.

now.. about the valve grind. i phoned 2 machine shops in different nearby towns and got two significantly lower prices. im not sure if the SD25 has precups, but if it does, then the cost is $149 for all 8 valves and seats.

the other shop said $175 for all.
i paid $70 each for just 3 whatever that means.

as well one shop said $49 to reface, the other $75. i paid $60

[glenlloyd]

Sorry...been gone, and I've not done an SD gasket replacement, only VW 1.6, so I'm glad to hear that you had a steel gasket and elected to try and reuse it.

I'm eager to hear how this turns out, mostly because I want it to be a success for you since you've gone though a lot of agony on this ordeal.

It sounds like the pricing comparisons you received the resurfacing were comparable (the $49 job I'd have to hear what that covered) but the other was around the same. The valve work I think was excessive and it's too bad they didn't communicate the total expense before they performed the work. A good shop will give you total costs upfront based on a worst case situation, anything further requires a phone call to the customer.

steve a

[after oil]

the subject line a quote from a song by our friend bio-wille.



everything was finally back together when i found a screwed fitting, see my post in the vacuum pump oil hose thread its all fixed now

i drove around the neighbourhood for a little while today and i think everything is A-OK!!!!

im going away tomorrow for a week and i am glad to know i got her going for when i get back. the insurance ran out while it was in repair so i didnt go for a huge drive yet.


and the universe rewarded me today for my perserverence:

i know a guy who has had his 1987 D21 SD25 parked for years becuase he didnt have time to deal with it. he finally got a mechanic to tell him what was wrong: blown head gasket

he phoned me this morning and GAVE me his truck for FREE


i thank you all, posters and lurkers, for accompaning me through this whole loony process, especially our respected forum moderator philip!!

[philip]

SNIP- I know a guy who has had his 1987 D21 SD25 parked for years becuase he didnt have time to deal with it. he finally got a mechanic to tell him what was wrong: blown head gasket -SNIP- I thank you all, posters and lurkers, for accompaning me through this whole loony process, especially our respected forum moderator philip!!

"After Oil": Would you please tell: Was the critical, smallest, crack do to the head gasket between coolant and cylinder? (not refering to block or head).

[after oil]

philip, to be honest its not exactly clear to me what the problem was. some said they could see on the gasket where coolant leaked to cylinder head, others coolant to oil gallery. i still have the old gasket, i can look more closey if you tell me what to look for.

[REDNECK]

gave you the truck!....A gold mine!!

[glenlloyd]

i drove around the neighbourhood for a little while today and i think everything is A-OK!!!!

glad to hear it's running and hopefully running ok!

and the universe rewarded me today for my perserverence:

i know a guy who has had his 1987 D21 SD25 parked for years becuase he didnt have time to deal with it. he finally got a mechanic to tell him what was wrong: blown head gasket

he phoned me this morning and GAVE me his truck for FREE

Now that's a great deal....relish this, they don't come up often enough!

steve a

[Knucklehead]

This may be a bit late, but I've been running with cracks between seats since I got the truck in about '92. No problems.