Head Gasket On R34 Help!

[sgl373]

Hi guys,

was hoping for some advice,

Finally got my Series 1 R34 Turbo this year and the car was in great nic, 80,000kms perfect compression and in great condition.

Took it to a mechanic in Melbourne, whom flushed the cooling system and gave it a major service to find five days later the car overheats and does a

head gasket as a result of a 'blocked radiator'. Not happy, anyways I was hoping for some advice as to what to do, I was quoted $1000 from the mechanic

to take the head off, machine and fit a new head gasket. But, that's a starting price, assuming the head doesn't need a reco, or if there's any additional damage/costs asociated.

Not sure if i just get a changeover engine and be done with it rather than risk spending the money and my car is never the same again.

Any help/advice appreciated.

Cheers.

[AAA34T]

$1000 is too cheap i did it my self but used tommee head gasket $250 arp head studs $130 the head service was $330 radator flush some new hoses vrs kit and all other gaskets and seals timing kit from nissan was almost $1200 in the end it was just over $2000 but it was done using all good parts and no labour so $1000 SOUNDS TOO CHEAP mine was caused by the mechanic who did the timing belt 10 000kms before hand did not know how to bleed the cooling system right and all the rb motors have a bleed bolt at the back of the motor and it is verry common to blow the head gasket if it is not bled out right he learnt a big lesson when i finnished with him and now he is not a mechanic any more.

i would be budgeting more like 2 to 3k take it to somewon who realy knows skylines

where r u what state ?

[boostn0199]

Well it depends im assuming its an everyday mechanic who will just take off head give it a quick clean prob not change timong belt and if heafs still within spec slap it on with old head bolts. As above when i did mine myaelf cost much more than grand in parts tomei hg arp studs full timing belt kit new valve seals etc

[StevenCJR31]

im suprised the mechanic flushed the cooling system without putting a filter in the top hose , get a good secondhand head, get it checked and put that on, also if the engine overheated badly then you may want to get the compression tested

[sgl373]

$1000 is too cheap i did it my self but used tommee head gasket $250 arp head studs $130 the head service was $330 radator flush some new hoses vrs kit and all other gaskets and seals timing kit from nissan was almost $1200 in the end it was just over $2000 but it was done using all good parts and no labour so $1000 SOUNDS TOO CHEAP mine was caused by the mechanic who did the timing belt 10 000kms before hand did not know how to bleed the cooling system right and all the rb motors have a bleed bolt at the back of the motor and it is verry common to blow the head gasket if it is not bled out right he learnt a big lesson when i finnished with him and now he is not a mechanic any more.

i would be budgeting more like 2 to 3k take it to somewon who realy knows skylines

where r u what state ?

Hi there. In Melbourne VIC,

[sgl373]

$1000 is too cheap i did it my self but used tommee head gasket $250 arp head studs $130 the head service was $330 radator flush some new hoses vrs kit and all other gaskets and seals timing kit from nissan was almost $1200 in the end it was just over $2000 but it was done using all good parts and no labour so $1000 SOUNDS TOO CHEAP mine was caused by the mechanic who did the timing belt 10 000kms before hand did not know how to bleed the cooling system right and all the rb motors have a bleed bolt at the back of the motor and it is verry common to blow the head gasket if it is not bled out right he learnt a big lesson when i finnished with him and now he is not a mechanic any more.

i would be budgeting more like 2 to 3k take it to somewon who realy knows skylines

where r u what state ?

[sgl373]

Thanks everyone for the replies, Appreciate the advice. BTW, I'm in Melbourne VIC.

[AAA34T]

If u were in sydney I could tell u where to go. But I do not know anyone in melbourne

Ask around till u feel comfortable with the mechanic