Hey all,

I just recently blew the head gasket on my 03 350z, I was wondering if someone had any advice/suggestions for service locations and build out ideas. The car is currently in Waterbury CT but I live in Manhattan, I'm ok to get the car anywhere in the north east to get the job done right and quickly.

Car: 03 350z performance
Engine: VQ35DE
Miles: 56600

Symptomns: Check engine light flashes all the time, white smoke from exhaust, smoke and engine idle get worse as the car warms up.

Diagnosis: Had a local shop take a look at it they said that the diagnostic codes were showing misfires, coupled with the smoke they are pretty confident that its a head gasket. They also said they dont want to touch the job because they know its complex.

Options:
1. Just do the head gasket repair - I am running a 75shot of nOS so am worried that the same thing will just happen again?
2. Rebuild with forged internals - dunno what this will cost or how long something like this would take can someone offer a quote?
3. Buy a used engine and do a swap? need price.

Also I have purchased a new clutch and flywheel, does it make more sense to just do the entire engine swap considering I want to do the clutch/FW at the same time?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I have a reasonable budget but dont want to get to crazy with things.

Thanks all.
j

 

Surprised your floorboard didn't come off.

 

Get rid of the nos and replace the head gasket.

 

+1....unless u want to do a full build by a shop pull out 10k plus

 

Lucky Mr. Gasket . . .

 

No, that would be nonsense.

 

Man your in nyc vq's are cheap and easy to come by. Buy a long block and put the old motor in the garage and built it at your leisure

 

So a 75 shot blew the head gasket on an 03 Z? Not that big of a shot at all, that's somewhat suprising

 

LOL....well do this...top the RAD off to the max up to the brim and have someone start the motor. If the water SHOOTS out like old faithful then yes exhaust is leaking into your coolant entailing a blown HG. Now the other way to go is Water is leaking into your oil and or into the cyl themselves. But here is another thing....WHICH SIDE IS BLOWN???? To do both sides it is about a 13.3 hours of time labor. Not including sending the HEAD or HEADS out to be resurfaced and PSI tested for cracks. Plus all the parts as far as the Gasket Sets, and Stretch Bolts.

Labor time 13.3 hours
HG Set $298.08 (complete both sides)
Stretch Bolts DEALER ITEM ( gotta call tomorrow)

As far as other gaskets i can probably save the intake/plenum gaskets no probs.
And the Valve Cover Gasket Center Rings for SPARK PLUGS is part of the COVER itself.

Valve Cover Gaskets $ 34.80 (2)

Now sending the head and or heads out to be resurfaced and checked complete to be safe would prob run around $250 a side maybe more. To late in the day to call up my guy.

in other words it is probably cheaper for you just to buy a used engine and have it installed.

I CAN DO IT ALL!! not touching the performance end of things tho. PM me if your interested.

im doing this real quick b4 i leave work so i prob left a few things out..but no matter.

 

Replace them with upgraded metal gaskets.
The nitrous runs much hotter than pump gas.
Iridium plugs to hold against the heat, an these are my gaskets of choice.
http://www.advancespeedshop.com/meta...02-p-5734.html
and don't run it with shot gaskets, that's no bueno...

 

If you blew the head gasket using NOS it is likely that you have other problems going on in there.
here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05...ht_2326wt_1131

 

did your car do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waS5b4jBU30