Took the T4 head off today!

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 14:39

As most of you know the cooling system was pressurising on my S40 T4, suspected head gasket failure. I had a big boost spike. My mate had a spare 3 hours in his workshop so thought we'd start it.

On removal of the head we found the gasket was leaking between cylinder 2 and the wet liner. The reason for failure was probably more to do with the fact that when the engine was built by SW Autos fitted a 2.0 headgasket to a 1.9 bottom end!! The bore on the failed gasket was 84.9mm and the new correct one was close to 82mm. They did the same on Ashoks T4 and his HG also blew. The plugs are a nice light brown colour and the head looks like it's been running rich more than lean.

We inspected the head and found that it has had a lot of porting work done and it looks like a nice job. The valve clearances need doing though so for ease and speed I'm fitting a standard head as I have a spare degreased, painted and refaced one ready to drop in. If anyone fancies a worked head let me know!

The bores still have the original honing marks which is very promising. Also the head has an ARP stud and nut kit fitted which are very nice indeed. No need for the £40 worth of headbolts I bought then! Doh.

A few pics

Nice clean newly painted bits. And new -34 actuator ready to fit

Head waiting to be removed

Head work on inlet ports

It failed on number 2. See damage and carbon on the fire ring and liner

Mate ESCOS GT30!

Mates G40

Mates Series 1

**MWT5** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 15:38

Seems a shame not to put the worked head back on after having a machine shop check the face is true,if it had the wrong hg fitted hopefully that would of been all the causes of your problems.
Hope you sort it whatever head you fit,I personally like things that are not the norm and not many have high spec t4's on here good luck sorting it.

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 15:46

Originally Posted by MWT5

Seems a shame not to put the worked head back on after having a machine shop check the face is true,if it had the wrong hg fitted hopefully that would of been all the causes of your problems.
Hope you sort it whatever head you fit,I personally like things that are not the norm and not many have high spec t4's on here good luck sorting it.

Thanks mate,

My new Hydro head has just been refaced so that isn't a problem. All it is, is I have limited workshop time as my mate uses it for his business and I need it on the road now. He and I simply don't have time to adjust the lifters. There is more power to come from my car. Watch this space!

**MWT5** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 15:58

I know what you mean mate time always plays a factor with everything my t5 autograss project always gets put last due to having other commitments and limited time.

**Kingsford G** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 16:29

Well at least u`ve found the problem and gald u keeping her.Hopefully we`ll c her at one of the essex meets.

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 17:49

Cheers mate, I think it would take an extremely nice car to temp me away now. After working on it today it seems to have renewed my enthusiasm a bit!

**bigrotch** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:01

Thats pukka news only gasket mate the beast is back, glad yr getting the buzz back if got blacky striped at the wknd and thought I'd have a look at the head... Omfg no1 score that ya nail gosin and 2-4 and 5 multiple scores and number 3 hand chuck in piston cap with sevral other dents and u cam wobble it in the cylinder....... But I'm glad yrs is on the up mate

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:08

Originally Posted by bigrotch

Thats pukka news only gasket mate the beast is back, glad yr getting the buzz back if got blacky striped at the wknd and thought I'd have a look at the head... Omfg no1 score that ya nail gosin and 2-4 and 5 multiple scores and number 3 hand chuck in piston cap with sevral other dents and u cam wobble it in the cylinder....... But I'm glad yrs is on the up mate

Cheers mate! The bores were in spot on condition which was nice to see. What car next then Rotchster? I'm thinking a nice phase 1 T4 =)

**Haizum74** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:12

Originally Posted by mitchyboy01

Cheers mate, I think it would take an extremely nice car to temp me away now. After working on it today it seems to have renewed my enthusiasm a bit!

So you're keeping her? Excellent. Glad the enthusiasm has come back

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:27

Originally Posted by Haizum74

So you're keeping her? Excellent. Glad the enthusiasm has come back

Yeah I think so mate roll on the big bhp!

**bigrotch** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:30

Originally Posted by mitchyboy01

Cheers mate! The bores were in spot on condition which was nice to see. What car next then Rotchster? I'm thinking a nice phase 1 T4 =)

I really don't. Know mate lol

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 18:40

Originally Posted by bigrotch

I really don't. Know mate lol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-VOLVO...ht_1230wt_1139

49K, FSH. Great base for a beast!!

**Mongo** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 20:12

Aw gdgd mitch glad you gunna give it another shot. I no how you feel mate spend all that money and time and when sumthing goeses t**s up it feel like a waste. I had a fast t4 up my §§§§ saturday nite and he was trying his hardest to get me going this running in lark suks!!! Hope you get it sorted mitch im sure youll do the right thing mate you wont regret it!

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 20:21

Originally Posted by Mongo

Aw gdgd mitch glad you gunna give it another shot. I no how you feel mate spend all that money and time and when sumthing goeses t**s up it feel like a waste. I had a fast t4 up my §§§§ saturday nite and he was trying his hardest to get me going this running in lark suks!!! Hope you get it sorted mitch im sure youll do the right thing mate you wont regret it!

Cheers mate!

Running in must be a nightmare. I usually only run in for a few heat cycles 100miles max at different loads as you only need to bed the rings in. Never had a problem. But I understand as you built it yourself you will be extra careful. As for the t4 Even stock T4s are very quick. Quicker than a stock s60 T5 on the 1/4. Mine is muchos fun when it boosts up lol. No one want a race down this way, immature I know but soooo much fun. Mind you I annihilated a scooby STI a few weeks back. He was like WTF!!!

**Mongo** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 20:49

You should pop down lake side saturday nights mate over the tescos loads of quick motors down there. I went out in my mate 650+bhp porsche turbo he just had built. Its soo fast spins all 4 wheels in 5th unreal. I spoke to jamsport he rekons 500-1000 miles to make sure bit gutted but i 100% trust him ive seen a few off his cars and if mines that quick and reliable ill be over the moon.

**mitchyboy01** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 21:00

I know mate it's awesome! Used to go up there a lot back in the day. Took my old 313bhp 854 T5 up there once. I got laughed at until I ruined some of them on the dual carriageway! Will sort a meet soon. Never heard a bad word about jamsport either. Did he do some of the work on your car?

**Mongo** · Monday 2nd April 2012, 21:11

Originally Posted by mitchyboy01

I know mate it's awesome! Used to go up there a lot back in the day. Took my old 313bhp 854 T5 up there once. I got laughed at until I ruined some of them on the dual carriageway! Will sort a meet soon. Never heard a bad word about jamsport either. Did he do some of the work on your car?

Yea be nice to meet ya mate when the volvs are dun we can rip evrything together lol. No he hasnt dun anything yet dun evrything myself i just bought turbo and paddle clutch of him but hes deffo mapping it. Also mitch another good mapper is red-dot in enfeild cheapish too he dun my mates astra gsi italian bloke called oggy. Better that redline imo.