c20xe head gasket

[db_1.2]

The head gasket recently went on my nova and im part the way through replacing it but i just wanted to know what torque setting the head bolts should be at.

And another question is when i went to buy the new gasket from auto componants they told me to bring the old one in, however when i looked in the book there was just 1 type but they told me there was several types?! I told him the engine code but he continued to tell me there were different shapes or something, so vauxhall pretty much wasted their time putting engine codes on the engines! Anyway is this true or is it just sh*t cus if its not true ill just order one from somewhere else.

[James P]

that guys sounds like an idiot. i just told them what reg the vechicle was and they gave it to me. go on chris ashley motorsport and get a metal gasket. last loads longer and all round better for you money there only like ?10 more!

[James P]

haynes manual tells you torque settings. i think its at the back of the book

[db_1.2]

Cheers, i was thinking about the metal one, i dont have the reg of the car the engine came from though, however i told him the car, and then, POINTED at the one in the book and said, ''its that one there, C20XE'' then, the old, friendly but rather iratating man replied, ''these engines were made all over the place'' and i qoute, ''theyre still made in wales''?

So the metal one sounds good but will it lower compression?

[db_1.2]

Also, dont got a haynes manual, is it 90nm?

[James P]

yer its something like you get them all rufly tight, then half a turn, then again then 90% dont take my word on that. go down you local libary and hire a haynes manual.

dont lissen to that old guy there all the same pretty much and no it does'nt lower compresion. also if your head gasket went and the car got hot you should really get the head machine skimmed! ?15 not alot. also raise's compresion.

[coombsey]

its 25nm then 90' 90' then 90' in a certain order

[Dar]

CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS for standard gaskets
GRAPHITE GREASE UNDER HEADS & WASHERS, OIL THREADS

STAGE 1---18 LB/FT 25NM
STAGE 2---65 DEG
STAGE 3---65 DEG
STAGE 4---65 DEG
http://www.sbdev.co.uk/Info_sheets/TORQUE_SETTINGS/2.0L%20Head%20bolt%20sequence.gif

[ANDYRACER]

You not buying new headbolts then?
It tells you the torque settings on the headbolt box.

[db_1.2]

Yup buying new bolts, heads being skimmed tomorrow, new belts, gaskets etc, no half measures here Lol.

Brilliant Dar i thought it was something like that, well, i knew the sequence as i built a few pintos before and an frst but i couldnt really give a sh*t about fords and pintos are cheap as chips so they were just practice.

Do arp do bolts for the XE or am i imagening things?

[db_1.2]

Hmmm think ill forget ARP! Its only a standard-ish engine anyway

[db_1.2]

Also what thickness gasket do i want? Idealy wouldnt i want to raise the compression?

[R1CH]

Just a std gasket will be fine, no need to alter comp ratio

[db_1.2]

So this one will be fine?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-REDTOP-C20XE-C20LET-HEAD-GASKET-SET-BOLTS-E_W0QQitemZ130187052623QQihZ003QQcategoryZ10404QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[R1CH]

Yep !

[db_1.2]

Cool beans, order that now then and the nova should be back on the road sometime next week:)

Cheers everyone

[R1CH]

Only thing to double check is that your getting the correct head bolts, is it an early / late XE ?? maybe have to measure your old bolts.

[db_1.2]

Umm earlyish, orderd it now anyway! I orderd the male ones which were the same as the ones i took out but i dunno about length i noticed some others were female

[R1CH]

Should be fine.

[db_1.2]

As someone once said on here ''wickedy bo!''

[db_1.2]

Head bolts were the same, got the head back today, nice and clean, like brand new! Cams are back in, so are hydraulic lifters obviously, spent most of the day just cleaning it all up, getting all the coke and nasty stuff off, should run a lot better (if it ever does run again!:S) Wish i had the money to put a set of decent cams in while it was all apart, never mind.

All rocker and cambelt cover are being painted by a mate, and the fuel rail is being polished.

Any tips while putting it all back together?

Pics to follow:)

[Philsutton]

Right there are two types of head bolts for the c20xe / let, the early type (which are longer) and the late type ones. Always buy them for an early astra gte if possible as these are longer an wont pull the thread out of the top left one when on the last setting.

Ive always done 25nm 90 90 90 (degrees), you are then supposed to to a 15 degree one after you have ran it up ect..

[db_1.2]

Ok cool, well i got my bolts i got the male ones think there the longer ones?

[coombsey]

the ones that you use a male torx is sorter only about 5mm i ripped the thread out of both dowled holes
1 is 105mm other is 111mm iirc

[db_1.2]

Hopefully mine should be ok, need a torque wrench and half to quarter inch adapter now:)

[alan b]

opel changed the torque settings on them recently to 25nm then 65' 65' 65' as 90' was too severe, also for reference the earlier longer bolts are 110mm long m11 thread without washers! just did mine today!

[db_1.2]

Cool, i would of got it done today but gotta go to stupid meal to meat gf's grandparents, AGAIN! Picked up my painted and polished bits though.

[db_1.2]

Well got my head on, just gotta put it all back together now, very dificult in a nova!

A pic of my bits from a mates bodyshop so got it done cheap, got my fuel rail polished up iswell, and cleaned the inlet manifold, should look dandy when back together!

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e168/db89/DSC00063-1.jpg

[Philsutton]

opel changed the torque settings on them recently to 25nm then 65' 65' 65' as 90' was too severe, also for reference the earlier longer bolts are 110mm long m11 thread without washers! just did mine today!


they only changed them as they didnt make the bolts long enough to start with which ends up pulling the thread out.

[db_1.2]

To be honest as long as it holds it on, runs and drives, im not really bothered how long they are! Lol

[db_1.2]

Cant wait to be back on the road either, my girlfriends driving scares the sh*t out of me in her 1.4spi corsa! On skinny lil wheels and everything standard, thinks shes some sort of rally driver!

[db_1.2]

Right i done it, it runs, revs a bit high but i think theres a leak on the inlet manifold.

BUT

When its running there is a really high pitched whine cumming from the back of the inlet manifold? Its quite loud.

[db_1.2]

Also i noticed sparks coming from the earth to the block from the alternator when reved so im guessing the whining is something to do with the alternator?

[coombsey]

it supposed to have an earth from alternator to the block

[db_1.2]

Lol the earth is present it just looks like its doing magic tricks!

[coombsey]

ive got one from the actual alternator to battery earth

[db_1.2]

Dont mean to be a pain in the ass but you got a pic?