head gasket?
Senior Member
Joined: 09-02-09
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From: Wisconsin
not trying to be a dick but if u didnt know where it was u shouldnt be doing a head gasket. It takes some time and you have to reset your timing and everything has to be done correct of you will have some bent valves and bigger problems.
and this was sarcasm 
you need new bolts as they are a one time use
you need new bolts as they are a one time use
Last edited by kxrida2000; Jan 11, 2011 at 08:44 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Thread Starter
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Joined: 02-04-10
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From: St Pete, FL
well my experience so far with car repairs has involed prelacing clutches, tranys, bolt ons, timing belts, and suspension. by reset the timing u mean just put the timing belt back on correctly? and where can i find the bolts, aside from the dealer? they tried to charged me $15 a peice for the clutch bolts...
and by the way, when sumone asks about a repair and you more experienced guys do nothing but make sarcastic jokes, whether or not you say "not to be a dick", you are still being a dick. nine times out of ten the person asking is trying to decide whether or not it is worth it to save money. you guys always say "if you've never done it before, dont try". how then did you learn? give newbs a break and help, not insult.
and by the way, when sumone asks about a repair and you more experienced guys do nothing but make sarcastic jokes, whether or not you say "not to be a dick", you are still being a dick. nine times out of ten the person asking is trying to decide whether or not it is worth it to save money. you guys always say "if you've never done it before, dont try". how then did you learn? give newbs a break and help, not insult.
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From: ky
i'm not a dick, i'm being realistic. you say that you have been replacing clutches, timing belts etc... if you have done that you would have known the physical location of the most important gasket on an engine.
lots of people reuse ARP studs, that is the reason they go with studs instead of bolts, you can reuse the studs (at least how they're advertised). as far as the head gasket it's not a bad job, remove head, we have a timing chain, no belt, reinstall head gasket, set 2 cams and crank in position, then accessory drive chain, with the balance shafts, these are all color coded and marked on the gears, for ease. once the chains are back on, tighten all the head bolts, make sure all the other bolts are tight that you may have loosened, and them reinstall the valve cover.
I haven't done one on a Cobalt before but since I have owned a couple of Neons I have done my share of head gaskets in the driveway. 
I would say that if you have successfully done a timing belt, clutch etc you should be fine with a HG if you take your time.
Get a good manual and read it before hand. Replace the bolts or get studs. Take lots of pictures when you are taking it apart and keep all the parts organized. Zip lock baggies work great and you can write a descripition on the baggie. I don't know how many miles you have on it but you should consider having the head done. I wouldn't bother with a NA motor if it was mine and I knew I hadn't been running around with it overheating all the time but with the SC I would at least have it checked to make sure you didn't warp it.
I am not sure if you have a SC or posted in here by mistake but this would be a good time to do any upgrades you have planned. Look at it as an opportunity to do things that you otherwise wouldn't since you will have the head pulled anyways. For instance new valve springs or cams are easier to add at this point. Easy to run everything for a dual pass or smaller pulley and new injectors now as well.
I would say that if you have successfully done a timing belt, clutch etc you should be fine with a HG if you take your time.Get a good manual and read it before hand. Replace the bolts or get studs. Take lots of pictures when you are taking it apart and keep all the parts organized. Zip lock baggies work great and you can write a descripition on the baggie. I don't know how many miles you have on it but you should consider having the head done. I wouldn't bother with a NA motor if it was mine and I knew I hadn't been running around with it overheating all the time but with the SC I would at least have it checked to make sure you didn't warp it.
I am not sure if you have a SC or posted in here by mistake but this would be a good time to do any upgrades you have planned. Look at it as an opportunity to do things that you otherwise wouldn't since you will have the head pulled anyways. For instance new valve springs or cams are easier to add at this point. Easy to run everything for a dual pass or smaller pulley and new injectors now as well.
Umm that's the reason a head stud bolt kit is 130 bucks, you can reuse them as many times as you want, I reused mine twice already, the threads do not deform easily, I believe its 220,000 psi, btw op take it too a shop, if you have to ask where the headgasket is you can't change it. This is coming from exp
dude the day I picked up my lsj I knew close to nothing about it, and just did my head gasket! if you can follow directions and suggestions from some good eggs on this site, there should be little issue. you can turn a wrench without being an idiot is all it takes. a second set of eyes is also a good idea.
Just being a stickler lol.
But yes OP, if you have to ask a question like that please have a shop do the work.
there is a how to on this but not on this site...go to google and type in piston how to cobalt ss and it will pop up i followed that for the most part and it came a part pretty easily...just make sure to mark everything and definately take pics so you dont mess anything up especially timing
Senior Member
Joined: 09-02-09
Posts: 4,210
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From: Wisconsin
The best awnser to your question would be, do the job on a vehical that you can afford to have down for a while. And have a friend, or some one more experianced help you, or supervise you. If your vehical can be down for a while, you can take your time. First time you do anything is going to take you longer then normal.
That's how I learned.
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Joined: 02-04-10
Posts: 267
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From: St Pete, FL
i thank all of you for the advice.
i am a broke college student, i cannot realisticaly afford to put it in the shop. that is why i asked questions to get a better idea of what im gettin into.
basicaly, when i asked that original question the idea had just popped into my head.
i replaced the clutch in my SC last July. when i decided to do it, i didnt even realize that there were 3 parts to a clutch, pressure plate, clutch disk and flywheel. but i asked you guys, and researched. then i did it. i have just started that process for the head gasket.
i have a few buddies who work in shops and build cars for a living, so i have ample help.
im just looking for advice from fellow cobalt owners.
thats true enough, and i get where youre coming from, but sometimes you gotta do it yourself. gotta ask questions
the reason i am thinking about the head gasket came from another thread. it was stated that, and i paraphrase, if you are leaking coolant, and you take off the oil cap and it looks like a milky residue on the cap, you may have a porous or warped head gasket (and i think maybe the head itself). my oil cap definately fits that criteria, and i am leaking a very small bit of coolant (the check coolant display pops up every 2 weeks or so). since head gaskets are more commonly "broken" or "blown", i figured i might replace it. if it is in fact the head, im not sure what i would do. is that a "port and polish" type of fix? or total replacement? also, what should i look for if i get in there to determine whether it is the head or the gasket?
thanks for the tips, and yes it is an SC.
what exactly do you mean by "have the head done"? port and polish type thing? just a good cleaning? where could i go, and what costs would be involved? could i do that myself?
i have always enjoyed working with tools, and am excelent at following directions.
i am in school for aerospace engineering, so i understand what is generaly going on, ive just never taken it apart before.
one of the benefits about still living with my parents is the ability to use their vehicles when needed. had to do that when i did my clutch (took me 2 weekends).
once again, thanks to all. i will see if i cant find a tutorial beyond this site, and will most certainly return with more questions.
i am a broke college student, i cannot realisticaly afford to put it in the shop. that is why i asked questions to get a better idea of what im gettin into.
basicaly, when i asked that original question the idea had just popped into my head.
i replaced the clutch in my SC last July. when i decided to do it, i didnt even realize that there were 3 parts to a clutch, pressure plate, clutch disk and flywheel. but i asked you guys, and researched. then i did it. i have just started that process for the head gasket.
i have a few buddies who work in shops and build cars for a living, so i have ample help.
im just looking for advice from fellow cobalt owners.
I haven't done one on a Cobalt before but since I have owned a couple of Neons I have done my share of head gaskets in the driveway. I would say that if you have successfully done a timing belt, clutch etc you should be fine with a HG if you take your time.
Get a good manual and read it before hand. Replace the bolts or get studs. Take lots of pictures when you are taking it apart and keep all the parts organized. Zip lock baggies work great and you can write a descripition on the baggie. I don't know how many miles you have on it but you should consider having the head done. I wouldn't bother with a NA motor if it was mine and I knew I hadn't been running around with it overheating all the time but with the SC I would at least have it checked to make sure you didn't warp it.
I am not sure if you have a SC or posted in here by mistake but this would be a good time to do any upgrades you have planned. Look at it as an opportunity to do things that you otherwise wouldn't since you will have the head pulled anyways. For instance new valve springs or cams are easier to add at this point. Easy to run everything for a dual pass or smaller pulley and new injectors now as well.
I would say that if you have successfully done a timing belt, clutch etc you should be fine with a HG if you take your time.Get a good manual and read it before hand. Replace the bolts or get studs. Take lots of pictures when you are taking it apart and keep all the parts organized. Zip lock baggies work great and you can write a descripition on the baggie. I don't know how many miles you have on it but you should consider having the head done. I wouldn't bother with a NA motor if it was mine and I knew I hadn't been running around with it overheating all the time but with the SC I would at least have it checked to make sure you didn't warp it.
I am not sure if you have a SC or posted in here by mistake but this would be a good time to do any upgrades you have planned. Look at it as an opportunity to do things that you otherwise wouldn't since you will have the head pulled anyways. For instance new valve springs or cams are easier to add at this point. Easy to run everything for a dual pass or smaller pulley and new injectors now as well.
what exactly do you mean by "have the head done"? port and polish type thing? just a good cleaning? where could i go, and what costs would be involved? could i do that myself?
dude the day I picked up my lsj I knew close to nothing about it, and just did my head gasket! if you can follow directions and suggestions from some good eggs on this site, there should be little issue. you can turn a wrench without being an idiot is all it takes. a second set of eyes is also a good idea.
i am in school for aerospace engineering, so i understand what is generaly going on, ive just never taken it apart before.
This is a very good question.
The best awnser to your question would be, do the job on a vehical that you can afford to have down for a while. And have a friend, or some one more experianced help you, or supervise you. If your vehical can be down for a while, you can take your time. First time you do anything is going to take you longer then normal.
That's how I learned.
The best awnser to your question would be, do the job on a vehical that you can afford to have down for a while. And have a friend, or some one more experianced help you, or supervise you. If your vehical can be down for a while, you can take your time. First time you do anything is going to take you longer then normal.
That's how I learned.
once again, thanks to all. i will see if i cant find a tutorial beyond this site, and will most certainly return with more questions.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-13-05
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 0
From: WI
the reason i am thinking about the head gasket came from another thread. it was stated that, and i paraphrase, if you are leaking coolant, and you take off the oil cap and it looks like a milky residue on the cap, you may have a porous or warped head gasket (and i think maybe the head itself). my oil cap definately fits that criteria, and i am leaking a very small bit of coolant (the check coolant display pops up every 2 weeks or so). since head gaskets are more commonly "broken" or "blown", i figured i might replace it. if it is in fact the head, im not sure what i would do. is that a "port and polish" type of fix? or total replacement? also, what should i look for if i get in there to determine whether it is the head or the gasket?
Senior Member
Joined: 09-02-09
Posts: 4,210
Likes: 2
From: Wisconsin
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 02-04-10
Posts: 267
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From: St Pete, FL
i go to Embry Riddle, and everyone i hang out with is an aviation mechanic major.
i get **** for that all the time...
but, i do plan on taking the accelerated mechanic course as well...
from working on cars ive realized that what seems like a good idea on paper is a terrible idea when you have to replace it... lol
Senior Member
Joined: 09-02-09
Posts: 4,210
Likes: 2
From: Wisconsin
lol. are you an aviation mechanic by chance?
i go to Embry Riddle, and everyone i hang out with is an aviation mechanic major.
i get **** for that all the time...
but, i do plan on taking the accelerated mechanic course as well...
from working on cars ive realized that what seems like a good idea on paper is a terrible idea when you have to replace it... lol
i go to Embry Riddle, and everyone i hang out with is an aviation mechanic major.
i get **** for that all the time...
but, i do plan on taking the accelerated mechanic course as well...
from working on cars ive realized that what seems like a good idea on paper is a terrible idea when you have to replace it... lol
If you want to be a better Aviation engineer, then do some time as a mechanic, that way you can see first hand some of the dumb **** engineers come up with, and you'll be better able to design stuff better.