I have researched this issue here on the forums and I am 50/50 on making a decision to fix my accord. It has 175k miles on it and I do not know one ounce of history on it being that I just purchased it. I would like to get some wisdom on this question. I would like to just replace the headgasket being that it would not be as complicated as an entire engine replacement. On the other hand, I have found an engine from a 1995 Accord EX w/ vtec with 71k miles on it from a local junk yard. I feel like I am taking a risk with the engine just as much as with the headgasket. If I do the headgasket, what extra precautions should I make sure gets done to ensure the most sucess out of the job. I have heard stories here and other forums that replacing headgaskets MOST times makes more engine porblems i.e. cracked head/ cracked bottom engine. What would be the best bet? Thanks

 

If engine is in good shape, a head gasket repair should cost less than engine replacement.

There will be some uncertainty in the condition of the replacement engine also. It will not have a garuntee to be flawless.

If you're DIY, it's a easy decision. Much less work to replace the head than the engine.

Recommend you have the cylinder head rebuilt; valve train removed, head shaved perfectly flat, crack inspection of head, install new valve stem seals, and reseat all valves. It will cost $250-$300, price in Houston.

Get a shop manual to guide your work. Not a terribly difficult job, but probably 15-20 hrs, depending on your level of experience.

good luck

 

Cost wise it is honestly probably the same. As someone who has bought LOTS of used engines, its always a gamble. You can leak down test and compression test and inspect some things, but its never for certain as you have no idea what car it came out of.

Most junkyards do offer a 60-90 day warranty though.

I know the junkyards around here f22s go for about $300-400.

To replace a head you will need a new head gasket(and I would just buy the whole cylinder head gasket set since you will have to take the manifolds off etc). I would at minimum resurface the head and inspect for cracks, and ideally do as TexasHonda instructed. You also have to replace the head bolts when you take the head off, another $85 or so.

This will easily cost over $300.

With the used engine route I would recommend changing the timing belt, balancer belt, and water pump. Of course since you just got this car I would recommend changing these if you decided to replace the headgasket on your engine as well since you just bought the car and you probably don't know the last time it was changed.


As someone that has swapped engines and changed headgaskets, the labor involved to change and engine isnt all that much more than changing a headgasket.

Its really up to you, but I tried to give you the pluses and minuses of both.