Hgf - Shall I Repair It Myself ?

[Enfield]

Hi Gents

 

I have a 2004 K series Elise and have the dreaded Head Gasket Failure (creamy gook in the header tank), I am waiting for a specialist to do the repairs but it is taking ages for him to get back to me so I got to thinking.

 

I am an ex Aerospace engineer so have a well equipped workshop mechanical engineering background and have a good work but have not really worked on cars much since my twenties ( I have just turned fifty a couple of days ago) .  I is just a confidence thing but I thinking maybe I should have ago myself ?

 

Has anyone here done the head gasket replacement, was it that difficult.. 

 

That brings about a couple of additional questions

 

To do this job do you have to remove the rear clam shell, is it that hard to do.? 

 

Second question is how do I clean the coolant system out of the oily contamination, seems you need to get this all out otherwise you would not know if it fixed or not.

 

Any thoughts gents

 

Cheers

 

Darren

[Phil S1]

Hi Darren, it's not impossible to do with the rear clam in place but it'll be easier with it removed. I did mine a few years back...with a lot of help from fellow MLOC members. If you have a look at my post below and those of Martin within it then that should give you a good idea of what's involved.

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/topic/59300-hgf-diy-kr1/?hl=%2Bhgf+%2Bdiy+%2Bkr1

 

All the best

Phil

[AlexD]

Hi Darren,

 

the clam doesn't need to come off i did mine over a long weekend and if i did it again i would be a lot quicker. however it depends on what you find i was lucky and caught it early, the head didn't need skimming and the hardness hadn't degraded.

Prepare for lots of skin loss and cursing mind. i would recommend changing the thermostat while you have better access, i went for a lower 82 deg unit and the car is a lot happier for it.

[Enfield]

Thanks for the encouragement gents, after doing a lot of research I have decided to go for it and do the job myself

 

It should be fun no doubt, now for the first part to remove the rear clamshell ha ha

 

I will no doubt be back with a few more questions ha ha

 

Cheers