KA24E Head Gasket, Help?

[DataXUnknown]

Alright, I looked around for a little help on replacing my head gasket on my KA and didn't really find much helpful information that I didn't know. This is pretty much the breakdown.

Symptom #1: My S13 had overheating problems ever since I got it, and I had swapped the radiator and fan clutch, it helped a little bit, but not all the way.

Symptom #2: Every once in a while I would start up my 240 and some white smoke would shoot out the exhaust, somtimes a lot.

Symptom #3: My engine (KA24E) would make a rattling noise, sounding like the timing chain was loose or somthing, in higher RPM's.

Symptom #4: The car has a small oil leak (which I think might be kinda normal for a 1989.)

So I drove about 40miles in just about 100 degrees with my heater on (becuase I knew from the past it overheating) and I got off the freeway and noticed a decline in power. This rattling noise I spoke of in high RPM's now got louder and louder as my speed slowly declined. As I downshifted to try and keep going (like an idiot), I came to a stop at a stoplight where my 240 completely died, smoke pouring out of the engine bay. It didn't smell like anything, but if I tried to start the car, it would give about 20lbs of compression on each cylinder (I did test it).

So after guessing it is the head gasket I try on this task myself, and so far have gotten the valve cover off, timing chain off, head bolts off, spark plugs out, radiator drained, battery disconnected, fuel lines blocked, and am kinda stuck at what to do next. I've been told that it can be done 2 ways. 1 is to take everything off the head inside the engine, and the other was to take out the head with the intake manifold + exhaust manifold and all. Which way would be easier?

I have a chiltons repair manual, and it's a bit hard to understand in some areas.

Any help on more details of what exactly I need to be taking off, and what things will be difficult to get to and such would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
-Wes

P.S. All this time, my temperature guage has never worked on my guage cluster.

[Sir]

unbolt the exhaust manifold from head, but leave the intake. IIRC thats the easiest way.

[DataXUnknown]

I've unbolted the exhuast manifold from the head, and the head is still pretty stuck on there. Do I pretty much need to remove everything that is above the injecters, like throttle cables and all of that?

[mandoz85]

I suggset that you download the FSM it is way better than chiltons.

[ncs13driver]

i just did my first HG on my sohc and i also took the inake manifold off, and took it to the machine shope to have it decked, u may have to do the same. also u may need to take a rubber mallet to the side of the head to start getting it loose.

[s15tys]

Try checking the thermostat as well could be some of the over heating problems. Put in it boiling water and if it opens then is good if it doesn't then you need to replace it

[kouki_matt]

if its just a small leak you dont even have to replace it i used k&w block seal on mine and it worked bomb and it has a 200% money back if it dose not work its like 21 at any auto store

[DriftCat]

I'm doin the same thing on my '90 sohc. I'm about as far as when you posted this dont know if you got your head off but I'm still fighting with mine. exhaust mani is off and I think intake is I took off like 5-6 bolts but it feels like something is still holdin it fuckin tight cuz I'm battling and its not wiggling or complying wiht my wishes at all...I had the same thing happen though haha died goin up a hill where its totally a blind spot for drivers comin over it and if I backed up I'd be right around a blind corner askin my kouki's to get smashed in. GL.

[DriftCat]

ah ha! trouble maker bolt in the front left corner kept mine on. near the P/S. it was covered in engine shit so I couldn't even tell it was a connection. only a 10mm.