[Xist]

I need to fix up some odds and ends on my Accord and at least look into replacing the rear main seal.

I also want to repaint the bumpers.

I can't sell a $250 car with ugly bumpers!

I am focusing on the 2002 Civic now, though. I have the timing belt and head gasket kits in the trunk, as well as the wing nut socket. I finally started watching videos. Since I have already replaced two head gaskets and one was on a 2000 Civic, I didn't take notes, but this is a lot of information in one hour!

I remember copying the transcript from some video--I am positive it was Eric the Car Guy, whose video I was watching when I started reviewing this thread.

In sum: I don't know the history of this car. The seller gave me conflicting stories and I know some of it wasn't true. The MVD seemingly put down a mileage that was a few thousand miles high, so I may drive this until the odometer matches the title.

Originally Posted by Xist

[Crazy J] said it had a blown head gasket, but he wouldn't be able to tell if the engine is damaged without removing the head.
The best-case scenario would be that I have a strong engine with a quarter million miles that needs the head gasket and timing belt replaced.
I could do it myself, but I already need to fix 4 cars, a greenhouse, a shed, and plenty of other things. The cheapest JDM engine I could find was $1,000, and $1,380 with a transmission.

Then I went full "If you give a mouse a cookie."

I still need to fix 4 cars, a greenhouse, a shed, and plenty of other things--although one of those cars has been replaced.

Originally Posted by JSH

This is why 20 year old cars go to the scrapyard when they develop problems. Swapping engines takes a lot of time and mechanic rates aren't cheap.

A local shop has a sign saying they don't source engines that are 15+ years old and if you source your own they won't warrantee it.

Reman Transmissions warrantees shipping and labor, but charge 160% more for a car with in the ballpark of 50,000 fewer miles--but you know it has zero miles and is in perfect condition--except I would have been putting it in a car with 230k miles.

Originally Posted by Xist

I didn't want to do this. I really didn't want to do this. I kept telling myself that I would get the parts, gather the tools, and buy a Haynes manual. I would rather flip through dozens of chapters and sections than spend days trying to figure out everything ahead of time.

However, I always need to stop, wash up, and then buy another part or tool, or figure out how to remove something that wasn't described in the FSM or anywhere else I saw.

I just wanted to figure out all of the tools that I needed to gather.

In theory, having already replaced the head gasket in a 2000 Civic, I should have all of the tools that I need for a 2002 Civic head gasket.

I just watch Eric the Car Guy's video and while I was eating lunch I watched his video and mentally listed each step, which, of course, I wouldn't remember.

I thought that, instead of pausing his video hundreds of times and going back, I would start with the transcript.

Yes, the transcript that doesn't have capitalization, punctuation, or any kind of breaks, so I used WPS Office for that, but it is lame, so I copied it into a Gmail draft.

That started suggesting all kinds of corrections, so I copied it to Docs, but that only did so much, so I went back to Gmail, pulled it up on my desktop, and have reviewed it for hours in Word.

The video is an hour long and my transcript is 12 pages.

Huh. I wanted to attach it as a code block so someone could click on it if they wanted to read it, but wouldn't need to scroll through it, and apparently I am limited to 8-page-posts!

Amazing. I tried attaching an .RTF, but apparently that format is too new for Vbulletin. I tried attaching a .TXT, but it was over twice the allowed size!

So, I am only allowed 5 pages?

I feel underwhelmed that the .ZIP of a .TXT is only 65% smaller.

You know how we aren't allowed to quote entire articles?! I just wanted to sum up!

With the Accord oil pan, Camry valve cover gasket, and 2002 Civic head gasket I didn't want detailed instructions, I just wanted torque specs and sequences, but yes, I would rather figure out as much as possible ahead of time so I have as few interruptions to my work as possible.

I searched this hard drive for the file, yes, but I forgot about second computer!

This is the one with the links, but I already have my desktop running, so I think that I will send everything back.

Otherwise, I can just download the script to this computer!

Originally Posted by Xist

I think that I have 29 instructions from the first 5.5 pages, but then he said to rotate the engine to line up the timing marks. Sure, I just put "Remove the axle," but I cannot have two big steps that are actually a bunch more steps, so I found a video on rotating the engine and doing the timing, but I quickly thought "That's it! I need to go to bed!"

Those 29 steps are on my desktop, right?

Right?!

Now I need to look up removing the axle and rotating the engine.

Originally Posted by Xist

I started looking for those instructions I was writing out. I finally decided they weren't on my laptop, so I switched to my desktop.

Right! I wanted to use Word to format the script from Eric's video!

Why?!

I have two copies of that, the RTF, and the TXT, but I absolutely cannot find actual instructions, so I need to start over!

This is the write-up I found: Head Gasket + Timing Belt DIY

Originally Posted by Xist

From the instruction thread: It is easier to remove the intake manifold if you remove the brackets attached to it first. Someone also suggested securing the intake with a bungee cord.

You may want to remove the engine mount after removing the intake. Once again I am doomed!

I believe that Eric disconnected the exhaust, but just pushed it back, still on the studs.

"solution for TDC and top cover - pull the top cover (carefully to not to damage the TDC wires) from the front and lift towards the rear, move it over the engine mounts studs and put your hand in there to disconnect the TDC."

Not Top Dead Center?

He said he needed a crow's foot.

I removed and reinstalled Chorizo's head by myself, but with the angles and everything I had difficulty.

An engine hoist would make short work of it, but would be overkill.

Maybe I put boards between the head and the block so I can remove and reinstall without scratching anything?

I would prefer a solution that didn't risk leaving bits of wood in my engine. Any suggestions?

This doesn't look right. Oh well:

Originally Posted by Xist

2003 Honda Civic Head Gasket and Timing Belt Replacement

All right. That is as far as I got. I am going to turn Eric's script into step-by-step instructions, add these notes, and then compare and contrast with the FSM.

With the magic of my 43" screen I have lots of real estate!