Overheating problems. 7M-GTE

**doobs** · 02-01-2006, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ryley

yeah. the previous owner blew a headgasket, which he got fixed, then it blew again, so he put in a metal headgasket.

car has no mods bar a full 3" exhaust, dump and hi flow cat.

i drove the car home (adelaide to ballarat, around 700kms) last feburuary and it temperature spiked about 100km from home. it then slowly blew the metal headgasket.

took the car to my mechanic down here, and he said there was a bit of dirt between the head and metal gasket, which contributed to it blowing... the stock bolts had also been re-used. :S

i've since had it replaced with a stock gasket, aftermarket bolts and reconditioned head, and it's been good as gold. boosting around like mad, never even thinks about getting hot.

as always, just make sure you get the head polished and finished dead smooth, and checked for cracks etc. Also get the block machined dead smooth, and get aftermarket head bolts (arp etc. torqued to 72ft./lbs.) if i had my time again i'd spend the extra $500 i didn't have and get another metal one.

i also had a 'running in' period on my headgasket- no boost for 500kms, then in for a retorque, then no more than a little boost for 500kms, retorque, then good to go. a nice saftey precaution. my mechanic also thinks my new headgasket should be good for about 11-12psi, and thats a 'safe' limit....

we shall see soon!

good luck with the 7m mate.

Thanx for that dude, very informative

**RyleyMA61** · 02-01-2006, 09:12 PM

no worries, hope it helps

**7mSupra** · 04-01-2006, 12:00 AM

Thanks for the help guys i took it down the radiator shop and it was in fact my radiator that was 30% blocked. Runs good now.
I have one more question about retorquing my head.
Since the rebuild i have done about 850km of sensible driving. When is it time to retorque the head? I have APR bolts ect.?

**Yian** · 04-01-2006, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by 7mSupra

Thanks for the help guys i took it down the radiator shop and it was in fact my radiator that was 30% blocked. Runs good now.

Woo... I was right

**RyleyMA61** · 04-01-2006, 11:03 AM

i'm pretty sure if you want to use new bolts you'll need to pull the head off again, so you'll need a new gasket and machining etc.

perhaps you could retorque the stock bolts whilst leaving the head on, and see how you go? if/when it blows next you could put the aftermarket bolts in...

but i'm sure someone more knowledgeable will help you out...

**hamgatan** · 04-01-2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by 7mSupra

Thanks for the help guys i took it down the radiator shop and it was in fact my radiator that was 30% blocked. Runs good now.
I have one more question about retorquing my head.
Since the rebuild i have done about 850km of sensible driving. When is it time to retorque the head? I have APR bolts ect.?

when you do it just remember... 76nm torque...