My 3s just overheated *Update*, UPDATE: Radiator/ Head Gasket replacement need help Options

[eggman40]

*****UPDATE*****

Ok so i was replacing my radiator today and when i disconnected my catch can i saw it was milky... It was not like that a week ago... sooooo im assuming the head gasket finally gave out.

Ive already started taking everything out: plugs, dp, alternator..... basically getting ready to pull the motor.

my question is now....

Is it possible to replace the head gasket w/o pulling the motor out of the car??? or does the whole thing have to come out?

Im REALLY strapped for time so I might hire someone to do it for me so i figure i would get as much crap out of the way so I save on labor... How much would be a fair price to pay for this?

and lastly, is there a way to tell if the BLOCK will need to be machined? becuase once the head is out, it would be easy to machine, but the block is a different story. i would have to pull the whole motor at that point.

Again thanks for your help guys, i really miss driving my car

This post has been edited by eggman40: Mar 14, 2009 - 9:54 PM

[stephen_lee]

you can test the tstat. drop it in a boiling pot of water. if it opens your tstat is good.
you can also check the temp it opens in a similar manner.

they also sale "head gasket leak detector" or some sht like that at auto parts store. its a few bucks.
fill up with new water, drive until it starts to creep above normal, pull over and suck some radiator fluid up into the "tester" (or follow the directions lol)

it will then tell you if you have combustion byproducts in your coolant and therefore a bad HG