SAAB 900 Head-gasket Replacement - IN TIME WARP-Troll Motors

[phillipc773]

I do all the work myself on my 1997 saab 900 and now I am going to try to change the ignition switch.., Been down The alternator ,starter, a couple clutch cables and a few serpentine belts. Now i have a SRS warning light on that drains the battery and a has initiated fault code.This began when ignition switch started failing. intermittently dying after start. If any of you SAABFANS ..catch this I could use some advice as the car is a joy to drive -900S 2.3 manual 1997

[bakerjf]

I feel a little nauseous after watching this - probably not unlike the car's owner when they paid the bill...

[precopster1]

Didn't see a lot of attention to detail whan, after machining all the gunk off the block face, what happened to all the crud that went down into the piston ring gaps. That's why NO head gasket job takes 5 hours when it's done on My cars; but I don't have a cue of customers waiting and happy to send it down the road if I take MORE than five hours. That's why I DIY.

[brettkramer]

@precopster1 I found myself wondering the same thing. You can see there are rags stuffed in the cylinders to keep most stuff out, I would imagine you would then use compressed air to blow out anything left in the cylinders. But what about stuff getting into the cooling ports and into the intake manifold? Any crude getting into the cooling ports is going to end up somewhere in your radiator....

[ding0925]

@precopster1 Good thing you not at the dealership working flat rate warrantee, you'll last till your bank acc is wiped out cause you cant book more than 15hr work in a week...if you work on a job that pays 3hr and you take 5..you get paid 3...do that all week ..most svc tech's learn big tricks to cut down on the time , to

[precopster1]

@ding0925 I have no desire to work at a dealership; I have seen my fair share of poor workmanship from dealer work to have learned to avoid them. Unless you drive the latest car (and I don't) they treat you accordingly. Smaller mechanics who count on repeat business get my business always as they care enough (and want you to come back) to do the job right.

[mviaya]

Hey! when cleaning the block where the pistons are at. what bit did you use for that air tool to clean it with?

[DaBomb31290]

How long would it take to replace the tranny, since you have to pull it with the engine in these cars?

[kwolfbrooks]

@DaBomb31290 Should take you about a day (six hours or so, depending on whether you eat lunch or not.) But you need the new or rebuilt tranny to swap with it.... ready to go. If you have to rebuild your existing tranny, then that's a different beast.

[quik912912]

jtreign9097, this actually isn't a terrible job. I recently did it with my '91 2.1 simply by following the info at fixmysaab dott comm. Just find a good machine shop to surface the head and make sure you don't have any aluminum filings hidden in it before putting it back on.

[jtreign9097]

@quik912912 ok cool thanx... what millage was yours at when it went..i know that it doesn't matter since the gasket ages no matter what but mine is currently 119k no problems just a leaky tranny oil cooler hose

[TheJizzlybear]

Great car, great track and great film!

[jtreign9097]

hope i dont have to do this with my 92 saab 900.. that looks like a headache of a job but im down for anything!

[adamv242]

They actually used a die grinder on the block... very bad form.

[marcusarelius23]

I've just done this job on my e3 525i yday, today im putting everything back on the engine. I can't wait to fire her up again!

I'm curious, what torque setting would you use on the head bolts of a bmw 525?

[ac690]

How long do you think would it take to put new head gaskets on a v8 ferrari mondial and how much would the gaskets cost.

[DONKEHOTE]

5 hours is a reasonable time, thats about how long it takes me to do a turbo headgasket. an N/A i can do in just under 4

[DONKEHOTE]

and im not working flat rate. the shop foreman at my place can do one in about 3 hours (a turbo)

[O3Obvious]

Nice video. Did you have to send the head off for resurfacing? What were you using to clean the crud off of the block and manifold?

[kwolfbrooks]

@O3Obvious Yep, head goes out for resurface and pressure test. The gizzy for surfacing is a pneumatic angle grinder w/abrasive disc. Very handy tool.

[deegirlshopping]

pointless if not and explaing how its done

[Shcubbebah]

please visit my video i have a video on how its done not just showing...

[gtdodgeviper]

make a video where you show exactly how to do it.

[Shcubbebah]

please visit my video i have a video on how its done not just showing...

[obamainformation]

how much would it be to take on a repair shop?

[kwolfbrooks]

If I understand your question correctly, I'd say this job would run you about $1300 at most shops.

[gtdodgeviper]

Today a mechanic told me that it will cost me $400 for the labor and + gaskets and stuff less than 500 for a 1995 celica gt

[bushferret]

Superb dude, gotta do this job myself so this vid has been interesting, just wish I had a nice garage to do it in like you, and not on a cold driveway in a British winter. Spot on though, cheers.

[kwolfbrooks]

good luck..! Remember: spray out your head bolt holes in the block to get out all the oil and coolant, re-use your head bolts, use a spray copper coating on your new gasket and have someone help you remove the head so you don't break the timing chain guides.

[riesenkatze]

Nice vid, thanks!

What kind of grinding tool did you use to clean the engine block after taking off the head?

[kwolfbrooks]

That is a Mac Tools, variable speed pneumatic angle grinder with an abrasive wheel.

[GiffinsPerformance]

Now thats a flatrate tech!

[theberengersniper]

I alwaya wondered if the gasket on one bank of a Vee engine blew if you had to change both gaskets, but I guess not?

[nahumcc]

Well first off a c900 saab isn't a v anything motor. Its a slant 4. The engine is mounted in a reverse longitudnal posistion with the gearbox acting as the oil pan. So while it looks like it is setup to be a RWD car it is a FWD car. Makes for easy clutch changes but very long and labor intensive gear box changes.

[Shadow7x7]

this is weak how the fuck do i change my blown headgasket!

[kwolfbrooks]

It's simple ...just follow the steps shown in the video!

[GiffinsPerformance]

1) Remove head

2) Replace Gasket

3) Reinstall head

4) Check for leaks

5) Road Test

[manta106]

x2,, its funny they change the HG in a different way than i do,, i usually leave the manifolds on, along with the dizzy

[kwolfbrooks]

Always leave the exhaust man. attached ...but the intake? Adds weight. And why struggle with the wiring harness, the fuel rail and injectors? Too much work if your target is the head-gasket. Yes? No?

[manta106]

i can see how it would work well the other way too,, i usally do it to dodge replacing the intake mani gasket..

i leave the fuel rail and injectors in the mani, disconnect the fuel line at the fpr and throttle body at the inter cooler pipe (turbo only)

either way, awesome video,, i really like how it was done. i should do one for my motor swap....

[marq101]

I think that depends. The exhaust manifold of my Turbo also was 'crooked'. They had to shave off quite a few millimeters. So if you have to change the headgasket you might aswell check that too

[theberengersniper]

If you need a detailed instructional video explaining every detail maybe you shouldn't be attempting it.

[Coachramsies]

faggot maybe he dont have the cash to get it done professionally and needs to do it himself...

[jamesfreddys]

the music is very cool.

[kwolfbrooks]

Vermilion was a Seattle band that has since dissolved, as far as I know. Definitely cool stuff, though. And yes, I wish a head gasket job went this fast! Thanks for the comments.

[jamesfreddys]

I'll bet you wish they really went that fast.

[ppappixx]

Cool.