Help!

Hi guys,
Help with my gu 99 rd28tdi.
Just wanted to let you know that I had it tested and it has a blown head gasket. Possible head.
Just wanted to ask a couple of questions.
Is the head made of cast iron? The bloke told me that these cannot be welded and machined but instead need to be replaced with a brand new head (he wants to charge me $3500 to do it inc parts excluding incedentles ie oil, filters belts hoses.)
But recomended I get the engine full reco at $6k(using my own engine).
Any advice, my mrs is 6weeks from having our 4th kid and I just sunk the last of my $$$ into this car which has now died.
cheers

Would it be cheaper to get another 2nd hand motor and put that in until after the coming event.
If you have the room you could trick up the old engine in your own time.

Damn sorry bud. That is bad luck. Why is the guy suggesting that you need a full engine reco done?? Seems a little excessive to me?

Worth getting another quote for the head job although it cost my dad about that to do the head on his 80tojo.

Consider sourcing a reco head rather than a new job too for a decent saving I recon?? Granted if yours is cracked it's a throw away but not all are and you should be able to source a reco I recon??

Good luck mate

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Damn sorry bud. That is bad luck. Why is the guy suggesting that you need a full engine reco done?? Seems a little excessive to me?

Worth getting another quote for the head job although it cost my dad about that to do the head on his 80tojo.

Consider sourcing a reco head rather than a new job too for a decent saving I recon?? Granted if yours is cracked it's a throw away but not all are and you should be able to source a reco I recon??

Good luck mate

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Hey bud,
He spoke with my mrs and explained that it is blowing blue smoke (which it wasn't doing before) and if we only get the head done he thinks that we will be disappointed with the outcome. $3500 for the head to be done seems like a lot. When he first spoke with the mrs he told her a new head would run $1100, now it's up to $3500.
Thinking about getting the part and just doing the whole thing myself

Can they not do an exchange head??? I reckon $1500 plus parts and labour. Or as Threedogs sugested, an exchange engine maybe go 3lt. Thats my 2 bobs wirth

Quote:

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Originally Posted by threedogs

Would it be cheaper to get another 2nd hand motor and put that in until after the coming event.
If you have the room you could trick up the old engine in your own time.

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I haven't seen one for a decent price. Called pick and Payless at Blacktown who said its $6k for a second hand one, not a rec one.
That is the only second hand one I've found the rest are all reco.
Any ideas on where to pick one up in Sydney?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve4wdin

Can they not do an exchange head??? I reckon $1500 plus parts and labour. Or as Threedogs sugested, an exchange engine maybe go 3lt. Thats my 2 bobs wirth

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All the prices quoted are either exchange prices or using my original parts (the reco engine will be my engine reco).

Is it big work to upgrade to 3lt?

IMO I dont trust rattle gun specials, doing the work yourself will certainly save you some bucks

Try ringing Berima Diesel. They have a good rep. Don`t go to western diesel at wetherill park they are theifs
Oh and by the way, congrats for the family mate, hope all goes well

Hi James,

I wouldn't be looking at changing the motor to anything else but the same 2.8 that you have already.

Anything else is going to cost more than you have already been quoted, and if dollars are tight, it doesn't make any sense.

To go to a 3L Patrol, you would end up having to change heaps of bits, and then you would still want to make sure that you pick up one of the later 2005 -2006 motors, and not just any 3L, or even the CRD.Probably cost in the vicinity of $15K with the motor, gearbox, computer, wiring, radiator, etc

Worst case with the 2.8 you have full rebuild is 6K.

If you get your mechanic to do the head, $3.5K, but maybe try to ask for a better deal, or if you are on really good terms, he may let you do some bits yourself to savea bit.

Best case is that you search around - others have mentioned picking up new genuine heads for the 2.8 for $1K, and if you and a couple of mates are handy, you can get away with the repair for less than $1.5K with new gaskets and head bolts, etc, and you are back on the road.

Mic

Quote:

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Originally Posted by happygtu

Hi James,

I wouldn't be looking at changing the motor to anything else but the same 2.8 that you have already.

Anything else is going to cost more than you have already been quoted, and if dollars are tight, it doesn't make any sense.

To go to a 3L Patrol, you would end up having to change heaps of bits, and then you would still want to make sure that you pick up one of the later 2005 -2006 motors, and not just any 3L, or even the CRD.Probably cost in the vicinity of $15K with the motor, gearbox, computer, wiring, radiator, etc

Worst case with the 2.8 you have full rebuild is 6K.

If you get your mechanic to do the head, $3.5K, but maybe try to ask for a better deal, or if you are on really good terms, he may let you do some bits yourself to savea bit.

Best case is that you search around - others have mentioned picking up new genuine heads for the 2.8 for $1K, and if you and a couple of mates are handy, you can get away with the repair for less than $1.5K with new gaskets and head bolts, etc, and you are back on the road.

Mic

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Thanks mick. Advice is appreciated mate.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve4wdin

Try ringing Berima Diesel. They have a good rep. Don`t go to western diesel at wetherill park they are theifs
Oh and by the way, congrats for the family mate, hope all goes well

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Hi Steve,
Thanks for all of your advice mate and your kind words re the Fam.
All appreciated, good to know someone local who has had a bit of experience dealing with mechanics, a bike could get himself into a lot of trouble dollar wise if he doesnt know what's happening under his hood.

Hi James,

Not sure where you are located but I had the same thing with my 2.8TD in my 1997 GQ. (I dont think they are the same engine) however, I did a complete head exchange with a new one (not a remanufactured one) and water pump, radiator head bolt kit seals and bearings and took about 4 weeks to complete and only cost me $3800.00. My mechanic is in St Marys in western Sydney and I would be happy to give you his details if you want him ti have a look at it for you.

Cheers,

Rob

At ideas on where to get the radiator repaired, the overflow tube pipe thing has broken off whilst intransit to my house so I now need a top tank for the radiator as well.

As far as having a mechanic look at it, I've bee able to get a hold of a friend who can help with the repairs, just need the parts now at a good price.
Cheers guys

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rkinsey

Hi James,

Not sure where you are located but I had the same thing with my 2.8TD in my 1997 GQ. (I dont think they are the same engine) however, I did a complete head exchange with a new one (not a remanufactured one) and water pump, radiator head bolt kit seals and bearings and took about 4 weeks to complete and only cost me $3800.00. My mechanic is in St Marys in western Sydney and I would be happy to give you his details if you want him ti have a look at it for you.

Cheers,

Rob

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Hi rob,
Does your mechanic do machining and pressure/crack tests on heads or does he send away for this to be done?
I just feel a little bit weary of the mechanic that it's currently at and don't trust him to tell the truth about the test results.
I'm at cranebrook so right near Penrith

FYI Just found a had for $650 brand new!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jamesandlizk

Hi rob,
Does your mechanic do machining and pressure/crack tests on heads or does he send away for this to be done?
I just feel a little bit weary of the mechanic that it's currently at and don't trust him to tell the truth about the test results.
I'm at cranebrook so right near Penrith

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Care full there James, I recall you asking for help. I think Rob was being very help full with some body he know and trusts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve4wdin

Care full there James, I recall you asking for help. I think Rob was being very help full with some body he know and trusts.

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Sorry if what I wrote didn't read well.
When I said I didn't trust the mechanic, i was referring to my mechanic, where its currently located, thus me asking rob if his mechanic is able to do the pressure tests and machining.
I am def. interested in using him.

I am very great full for all of the help and advice that has been given on this forum.
So a big thank you to everyone who has help with your advice.
Cheers, it's appreciated.

Good news - $650 is a great price. Let's hope it all comes together nicely for you.

Mic

Thanks mate!
Yeah my mrs is happy, it took her 3 days of searching and she finally found something.