Headgasket upgrade, fun stuff....not!
#1
![Wink](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif)
The guys that have done this weren't lying lol. It really kills your back after a while. This is the first time I've opened up the motor so I'm going at it really really slowly. Just some progress pix as of tonight. I didn't post up a DIY on this because it's simply too big of an undertaking even for most of the DIY'ers out there. One small mis-step can lead to catastrophic failure.
The intake manifold on this car is really really hard to work with. I spent most of my time wrestling with the very bottom piece of the manifold. It finally came off and I called it a night.
Oh yea, I was glad to find that my entire valvetrain and valve cover was spotless. Not even a trace of yellow film or anything. Everything was completely clean and clear. I guess the Mobil1 synthetic was doing its job and is good for something![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Anyways, on with the pix!
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_1.jpg)
The intake manifold on this car is really really hard to work with. I spent most of my time wrestling with the very bottom piece of the manifold. It finally came off and I called it a night.
Oh yea, I was glad to find that my entire valvetrain and valve cover was spotless. Not even a trace of yellow film or anything. Everything was completely clean and clear. I guess the Mobil1 synthetic was doing its job and is good for something
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Anyways, on with the pix!
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_1.jpg)
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_2.jpg)
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#12
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Honestly, I don't think I would want to do this all over again lol. Still though, I wouldn't want to shell out the $700-1000 for a shop to do this. I guess that's why I'm a DIY guy after all lol. I'm not looking forward to my bottom end rebuild lol
Right on. I'm putting in a 2MM headgasket so I can drop the compression ratio to 9:1 to run higher boost. ![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Here are the updates as of today
My car has been sitting in the garage for a whole week because I was too busy to work on it. Oh yeah, and also I was waiting for a tool to come in the mail. I don't know why but a 14mm allen wrench is impossible to find. I tried about 10 local stores before I finally gave up and just ordered one online.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_3.jpg)
Hmmm...not enough torque.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_4.jpg)
Ahhhhhhh....MUCH better!
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_5.jpg)
Pulling off all the stuff so I can clean up the head.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_6.jpg)
Stock paper thin HG VS. upgraded 2mm thicker HG.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_7.jpg)
Head cleaned up and ready to be installed.
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Here are the updates as of today
My car has been sitting in the garage for a whole week because I was too busy to work on it. Oh yeah, and also I was waiting for a tool to come in the mail. I don't know why but a 14mm allen wrench is impossible to find. I tried about 10 local stores before I finally gave up and just ordered one online.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_3.jpg)
Hmmm...not enough torque.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_4.jpg)
Ahhhhhhh....MUCH better!
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_5.jpg)
Pulling off all the stuff so I can clean up the head.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_6.jpg)
Stock paper thin HG VS. upgraded 2mm thicker HG.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_7.jpg)
Head cleaned up and ready to be installed.
#13
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_8.jpg)
All the little parts and such removed from the head.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_9.jpg)
All cleaned up and ready to be put back together.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_10.jpg)
All cleaned up and pretty
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_11.jpg)
Another shot!
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_12.jpg)
Torquing down the ARP head studs.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_13.jpg)
Doing the final rounds and tightening up all the main bolts.
![](http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/Forums/ClubLexus/2007_04Apr/hg_14.jpg)
Finished up to this point and called it a day. I'll reinstall the turbo and manifold tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have it all up and running by then
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)