Perth Corolla Engine help

[Beno]

I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
Dipstick like cream
Air bubbles from Radiator
Oil fill cap cream under it
anyway

I picked it up knowing it was in need of a new gasket or Cylinder head
So Im willing to spend no more than $1000 on it as I got it for $180 :)
has aircon that works and 5 speed box,body has a little rust but 3 months
rego left
Do you guys think I should just put a recon head in or just get a full recon
motor? I see motors can be had for $700 or so fitted or give a bottle of
stop leak a go first

Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river

cheers
Ben

[Scott A]

"Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:41fd5d6b$0$32635$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
> Dipstick like cream
> Air bubbles from Radiator
> Oil fill cap cream under it
> anyway
>
> I picked it up knowing it was in need of a new gasket or Cylinder head
> So Im willing to spend no more than $1000 on it as I got it for $180 :)
> has aircon that works and 5 speed box,body has a little rust but 3 months
> rego left
> Do you guys think I should just put a recon head in or just get a full
> recon
> motor? I see motors can be had for $700 or so fitted or give a bottle of
> stop leak a go first

I just had the head done on my 88 Mitsu Colt, cost me 200 for the work and
100 for a regrind gasket set, so a lot cheaper than a new engine. It was
only worth it because the bottom end seemed ok, just the valve seals gone.

It really sounds like you have a crack in this one, but I think you can get
replacement reconditioned heads for not much more than a regrind.

A crack test would tell for sure but can be more expensive than its worth.

Scott A.
>
> Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river
>
> cheers
> Ben
>
>

[_Scott_]

IMHO if I was in your situation it would depend on how many KM the current
engine has and how its been looked after.

If the rest of the engine is getting a bit tired consider a low KM jap
import engine for the car. If its in good nick give it a head job :)

Scott
"Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:41fd5d6b$0$32635$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
> Dipstick like cream
> Air bubbles from Radiator
> Oil fill cap cream under it
> anyway
>
> I picked it up knowing it was in need of a new gasket or Cylinder head
> So Im willing to spend no more than $1000 on it as I got it for $180 :)
> has aircon that works and 5 speed box,body has a little rust but 3 months
> rego left
> Do you guys think I should just put a recon head in or just get a full
> recon
> motor? I see motors can be had for $700 or so fitted or give a bottle of
> stop leak a go first
>
> Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river
>
> cheers
> Ben
>
>

[dave_h]

> Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river
>
> cheers
> Ben

I presume yours is a 4K-c engine 1.3 litre carby pushrod engine?
they are pretty sturdy little engines, the bottom end usually lasts for
ages so I'd probably just get the head replaced as it is alloy and
yours has probably warped. The KE70's are a great little car as well.

You could be a bit adventureous and get the 5k-c 1.5 litre engine from
a 1980's lite-ace van and drop it in. It is a straight bolt in swap. a
few of my friends did that swap to their KE70's. the 1.5 has not much
more power but heaps more torque which is something the 4k-c is lacking.

[budgie]

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 06:18:26 +0800, "Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote:

>I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
>Dipstick like cream
>Air bubbles from Radiator
>Oil fill cap cream under it
> anyway

Blown head gasket or corroded head. Either way it comes off.

If you are capable of doing the R&R yourself, there are a number of small
automotive shops that do heads. I did the kid's N12 Pulsar a couple of years
back. Gave them the complete head in a box, got it back schmick and ready to
bolt back on before I'd finished scraping the residue of the old gasket off the
block. Cost ~$150 for disassemble (valve gear), clean/weld/machine, reassemble.
Add TOH gaskets and you're crreeping towards $300. But if the bottom end is
sound then it'll give the old girl another couple of years as long as you keep
inhibitor in it. My preferred shop is east, not SOR - Stewarts Automotives.

[Steve]

"Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:41fd5d6b$0$32635$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
> Dipstick like cream
> Air bubbles from Radiator
> Oil fill cap cream under it
> anyway
>
> I picked it up knowing it was in need of a new gasket or Cylinder head
> So Im willing to spend no more than $1000 on it as I got it for $180 :)
> has aircon that works and 5 speed box,body has a little rust but 3 months
> rego left
> Do you guys think I should just put a recon head in or just get a full
recon
> motor? I see motors can be had for $700 or so fitted or give a bottle of
> stop leak a go first
>
> Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river

check out the Quokka and buy a dunger un-regoed Corolla for $100-$200 and
swap the motor.
Mates Suzuki had a Corolla in it and we picked up an un regoed Corolla for
$200 and drove it home from Armadale.
Advantage is you get heaps of other spares as well and can get someone to
pick up the wreck and pay you $40 -$80 to boot :)
I suspect the head is knackered by the way.
cheers
Steve

[Beno]

Yes I got the head off today and it is corroded to the shit
Im up for a recon so where to buy on in perth ? help

"Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:41fd5d6b$0$32635$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> I just picked up a 84 Toyota Corolla with I think a blown head gasket
> Dipstick like cream
> Air bubbles from Radiator
> Oil fill cap cream under it
> anyway
>
> I picked it up knowing it was in need of a new gasket or Cylinder head
> So Im willing to spend no more than $1000 on it as I got it for $180 :)
> has aircon that works and 5 speed box,body has a little rust but 3 months
> rego left
> Do you guys think I should just put a recon head in or just get a full
recon
> motor? I see motors can be had for $700 or so fitted or give a bottle of
> stop leak a go first
>
> Can you reccomend a business to take it to in Perth south of river
>
> cheers
> Ben
>
>

[budgie]

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 17:50:11 +0800, "Beno" <natoli@iinet.net.au> wrote:

>Yes I got the head off today and it is corroded to the shit
>Im up for a recon so where to buy on in perth ?

Before you get one, find a head reconditioner and get his opinion on repairing
it. Odds are a head from a wrecker will need a recon job anyway, whether it has
any (visible) corrosion or not.