A mate of mine had the head gasket go on his R reg 1.25 Fiesta on Friday. He paid

He shouldn't need a recon engine for a headgasket. What damage has he done?

He shouldn't need a recon engine for a headgasket. What damage has he done?

I didn't think that either. I thought all he would need is a new cylinder head and head gasket, but he's been talking to the garages not me.

Probably need the head skimming + a gasket set. Then labout. Much easier than a engine swap. Plus you dont know how the other engine is.

Probably need the head skimming + a gasket set. Then labout. Much easier than a engine swap. Plus you dont know how the other engine is.

Have you got any idea on rough price? What sort of garage would be about to skim the cylinder head?

Too right about the other engine, turns out it's in the west country somewhere.

Any suggestions?

Someone had to say it, buy a Fabia:rofl:

i assuming you do mean the 1.25 zetec and not the 1.3 HCS engine here!!! it depends on how badly it has overheated to cause the head gasket to blow?? on the 1.25litre zetec that have a tendancy to bow really badly when they are hot, far more than can actually be skimmed off of them anyway..... they also distort thier valve seats very very badly too and may need re-grinding...... to be honest i dont thing you'd even get a a recon head for £250 +vat for a 1.25 zetec, they are horrible fiddly small things with mechanical lifters rather than hydraulics(which makes them cost more to repair)...... personally i would scrap the car or try to find a new head at a breakers yard at a sensible price

i assuming you do mean the 1.25 zetec and not the 1.3 HCS engine here!!! it depends on how badly it has overheated to cause the head gasket to blow?? on the 1.25litre zetec that have a tendancy to bow really badly when they are hot, far more than can actually be skimmed off of them anyway..... they also distort thier valve seats very very badly too and may need re-grinding...... to be honest i dont thing you'd even get a a recon head for

Someone had to say it, buy a Fabia:rofl:

He used to have a Seat Ibiza before he went travelling for 12 months, and he only got that because he couldn't afford a second hand Fabia at the time (as they were too new). He really loved his Ibiza, when see one now in the same colour he always comments on it. It SWMBO Fabia was a few years older I'ld have offered to sell him it.

If he does start looking for another car I'll steer him towards VAG again.

You are looking at least the best part of a grand for a recon engine I would have thought based on what i paid for a 1.1HCS.

I guess it depends on how long the car is to be kept. If he is planning on selling soon anyway, you may get away with just changing the gasket and bunging it all back together. That of couse depends on the symptoms of gasket failure, and how hot the engine got if indeed it overheated.

Well spoke to him last night, and he has managed to part-ex it against a R-Reg Mondeo estate, which he picks up on Saturday. He is currently between jobs, so its fair enough, although this Mondeo has done 95k and his not sure if the Cam belt has been changed. Could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, but only £500 so risk is fairly low.