Need Some Advice On My Ke70

[colaflavour]

Hey peeps,

 

I have just done a head on my ke70 wagon's 4kc engine. Not sure what it is yet (could just be a gasket) but it overheated and now I have water in oil.

 

The engine itself has only done 125000kms.

 

I have made a few calls and have been quoted From $400-$1000 for repairs depending on what is needed.

 

I have always dreamt of putting something like a 4age engine into ke70.

 

I'm not really mechanically minded myself and don't really know anyone who does this kind of stuff but I just wanted some advice in this area.

 

Is it worth it?

 

What kind of coin should I expect to fork out to for the conversion, and any other necessary upgrades eg brakes etc.

 

How to find the right engine.

 

Also any recommendations of places to get the work done?

Edited June 16, 2011 by colaflavour

[Jono.C]

I reakon, it'll cost atleast $2k to get a 4age in it, Plus brake upgrades (AE86 maybe) etc

 

And if you're not mechanically minded you'll need someone else to do it..

 

So Parts + engine + labour = $4000~

 

 

2nd hand 4kc = $100~

 

Seems a better idea and that way it still runs while you can stockpile parts/ knowledge/ funds for a 4age

[ke70dave]

not much change from 3000 for a 4age conversion alone.

 

i did it properly but got alot of good bargains, and that's what it cost. i can give an itimised list if you like.

 

take head off, inspect damage. if its not to bad (from inspection of engine shop) put it back on with new gasket, and your all good.

 

if it is stuffed beyond repair, pick up a complete 4k for about 100-150bucks out of the for sale section. swap it over in a weekend, and your back in business. or you can prolly get a head by itself for about 50bucks, just have to make sure you get a good one, so get it checked out at the engine shop before you install it.

 

if you overheated it badly, good chance you warped the head.

[altezzaclub]

I reckon you won't get change out of $10,000 paying a garage to fit a 4AGE properly.

 

I've yet to meet a Rollaclub member who writes down everything he spends on a mod and keeps the receipts, so all they can tell you is what they paid for some half wornout engine, but not the costs of all the rest of it.

 

How much to fit twin SUs, a cam and an exhaust, doing bigends and mains at the same time??

 

Any guesses? $1000 .... $2000... more?? I've got everything written down and it was over two grand!! I did all the work, but had to pay for engineers to do the head & crank.

 

That's why there are so many uncompleted AE86s or 4AGEs in KEs for sale... "almost done, just needs..." or "Runs OK, needs a tune and a xxxx for rego" or "Cost me heaps more than the sale price of $7500"

 

So, unless you have great mechanical knowledge and a heap of mates in the industry who owe you favours, take the head off yourself and have it checked at a head shop. Its not hard, we can offer advice, and you can re-fit it once they have cleaned and skimmed it.

[dirtbagke70]

just get a new 4k ull be able to pick up 1 for cheap as

[colaflavour]

can anyone recommend a good mechanic in the Brooklyn Park area (Adelaide) that isnt going to rip me off?

[ke70dave]

ring some up. get a feel for prices.

 

for a head gasket job on any motor, i reckon its at least 800bucks for a shop to do it. complexity of motor asside, it still takes time.

[colaflavour]

Yeah I've rang a few places and that's around the price I've been getting. thanks mate

 

One guy mentioned the possibility of needing vrs seal kits which i have no idea about.

 

flushing radiator core, new thermostat possibly aswell

[ke70dave]

VRS kit is the kit you buy that contains all the seals you need to replace when you change head gasket.

 

namely the head gasket itself, few other gaskets, water pump etc. o rings here and there. they are usually around 100bucks on their own.

 

stands for "valve regrind set", all the stuff you need when you do valves on a head (ie take off head).

 

yep flushing radiator is a good idea, as well as testing (and possible replacing) thermostat. thermostats are only 20bucks or so.

 

they need to explore all avenues of the engine, to work out what caused the head gasket to go in the first place (overheating yeah, but how?). which is why they quote so much.