Had some bad engine news today what shall I do?

[Quick Nick]

So have been getting the Starlet ready for the Nurburgring in 3 weeks, so thought I would have a productive day getting bits and pieces done, 4 new tyres and a new exhaust later, I stop by my mechanic to get some bits checked. Turns out I need a new head gasket, and Turbo seals, probably due to ragging it for the last 5000 miles around Europe...

So what to do? Thinking new engine, or new gasket and Hybrid the turbo, or maybe sell up as been looking at getting a company car? I have recently spent a fair amount modifying the only thing left to get was the fmic.

Am I right in thinking 300-400 quid parts and labour for head gasket? And how much for new turbo seals?

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Starlet_Sam]

If your willing to travel Tuning Developments (trader on this site) do a head gasket replacement for £120 I think it is. Extra if the head needs skimming though.

 

[Iain@CRD]

£300-£400 would be a normal garage that charge that sort of price and dont know there way around Starlets, basically covering there backs incase it takes any longer than expected.

Its probally just down to age, bearing in mind most cars are on average 13 years old or older.

 

[Quick Nick]

ok interesting I have been in touch with Nick previously..

Any idea about Turbo seals and Hybrid-ing (is that a word?!) costs etc? May be more interested in trading in my Turbo as I think I may have slightly over ported the wastegate :slap:

 

[Iain@CRD]

ok interesting I have been in touch with Nick previously..

Any idea about Turbo seals and Hybrid-ing (is that a word?!) costs etc? May be more interested in trading in my Turbo as I think I may have slightly over ported the wastegate :slap:

With Hybrid-ing your better buying a Hybrid already done pal. Most will do an exchange basis, your old for there new etc.

 

[Jay]

Nothing out of the ordinary given age and mileage Nick, certainly not something that would make me sell up and get all sensible!

Engine gasket kit is £120 from Toyota and will include everything you need for the headgasket replacement.

The turbo options are endless but cheapest is a straight secondhand CT9 which should set you back around £80 or so. Watch for duff units being passed off as good though.

When the turbo died on my daily I opted for a CT9 hybrid from Enzo who sells Tong Turbos over on UKSC. It's a good upgrade from stock and improves power nicely.

Above the stock fit options you could also slap a TD04 on there, or a TD05, or a K24, or a K26, the list goes on..

Hope that helps,

Jay

 

[Valdo]

if u get new engine something like that can just occur after 2days if u do the gasket and seals u are sorted then . do gasket urself easy job just need special tool from toyota costed me 22euro for head bolts

 

[Quick Nick]

Thanks guys; dont really have the time to do the head gasket myself (or the knowhow particularly) so would ideally have someone else do a job on it.

I think I would prefer a new turbo (hybrid) as i ported the wastegate too much or get all new seals and a stiffer spring on the wastegate when sorting out the turbo...problem is, when the head comes off where do you stop? May as well put in new valve springs, and with a new turbo the temptation for forged pistons is great...

 

[shane01]

got a question, didnt you notice something was wrong? i mean there must of been some loss in performance.

 

[Quick Nick]

got a question, didnt you notice something was wrong? i mean there must of been some loss in performance.

well to bo honest the only thing wrong was the hunting idle, but that wasnt even too bad...Mechanic says its not completely gone (head gasket) but almost there.

The performance has been good as I recently upgraded and everything has actually been running quite well, still showed my mate in his CTR the way to go last week! Turbo still blows hard and everything.

 

[shane01]

well to bo honest the only thing wrong was the hunting idle, but that wasnt even too bad...Mechanic says its not completely gone (head gasket) but almost there.

The performance has been good as I recently upgraded and everything has actually been running quite well, still showed my mate in his CTR the way to go last week! Turbo still blows hard and everything.

you been running above normal boost i take it?, why dont u get it forged save u doin it later on when u want that bigger turbo.

 

[Quick Nick]

well the car has to be able to do long distance; I regularly do 2000 miles in a weekend.

As you will see when I hopefully get the trader status on here that the car has to be good to cover long distance cruising regularly and return some decent mileage on a tank. Nurburgring, Highlands, South of France, Spain, Amsterdam, we take clients to these places regularly and the Starlet is part of those plans, and soon may be renting it out to clients for drives such as the Highlands, and I dont fancy anyone's chances of jumping into a 240bhp Starlet and not crashing it on their first drive....

it can so easily go from a 600 pound turbo and head gasket renovation to a 3k fully forged engine etc!

 

[turboflow]

some times though the block has to be skimmed, i found that out the hard way

 

[shane01]

i dont like the thought of my starlet doin those miles!, i dont like takin her on bumpy roads either haha

 

[Quick Nick]

I like to test it; you know if mine can travel across countries then all you guys can rest assured that there is a Starlet out there that can handle it so your blatantly could as well!

Never had a doubt about the cars reliability, having owned GTT's for 5 years, but I guess with mods + high boost you have to expect these things...

 

[turboflow]

mine gets driven and ragged 60 odd miles every day for the best for the last 2 tears and still fires up with no issues