Can I buy parts for a cracked head gasket at a junk yard?

Question

Do I have to buy new parts to have my carfixed? I was told a new one is the only way to go about fixing it and I find this hard to believe...

ok so a blown and cracked head is the same thing right? Ok so do I need a new engine if the mechanic said I have internal damage to it?

Answer 1

no you need new gaskets you could buy a head if needed but you should have it rebuilt if you are changing the head gasket on a V6 V8 V10 you will have to replace the intake gasket and the exhaust gasket as well as the head gasket

Answer 2

OK your question is a little confusing so let me clear it up a little. A cylinder head and a cylinder head gasket are two different things. It sounds like your saying that you have a cracked cylinder head, so no you don't need to buy a new head you can get a used one from the junk yard. But you will have to have it checked (and most likely remanufactured) by a machine shop before you can put it on your engine. You CANNOT reuse a used head gasket! You also say your mechanic says you have internal engine damage. If that's the case you have three choices.

1. Tell your mechanic to just fix it.
2. Get a rebuilt engine and have your mechanic put it in
3. Junk the car and get another one.

Answer 3

It's hard to explain, but a cracked head means that the physical substate of your engine (the metal block that your valvues are sitting in) is fractured. If any part of this device is damaged, it will not be able to hold the pressures that are happening inside the cylinders. When that happens, the engine loses horespower and eventually stops working.

You can purchase a used cylinder head. However, you will have to have it "planed" at a machine shop. (Lookup machine shops, call one and tell them you need a cylinder head "planed", they'll understand.) They take the head and put it on a planar machine, which grinds the metal until it is completely smooth and flat. This way, once you put the head back on the block (the bottom part of the engine), the mating surface is smooth and the gasket will seal correctly. Even a slight imperfection in the mating surface will cause uneven gasketing and you will lose the cylinder head gasket again and have to redo the whole process.

Additionally, after you have the head planed, one of the drawbacks of a used head is that you don't know if all of the valves work, so you will probably have to get a valve job. This can cost a couple hundred dollars on top of what you paid for the cylinder head, on top of the cost of planing it.

To go used it will probably cost you somewhere around six hundred dollars total depending on the car.

Answer 4

I'm sure you can buy parts..
and yes you were given the right advice in one way or another but

if you know what to do with them ,then great. I'd assume you were able to fix any problems etc. ie a (mechanic)

If not the head gasket' could well be broken and the radiator needs a good look at ,if not replacing .

you could ask to have it skimmed..and replace the radiator . this will might only delay the inevitable..the engine could be on its way out.

As to whether to believe the advice you were given that is up to you... and of course the advice of others sort on this question page etc,
though to put it politely the car may need to much time and financial attention.

from experience though, it may be time to consider a new car ..not..now but in the future... other wise you may be spending good earned money...etc only to ..buy a new car anyway..

Then again if you love the car you have you may want too look after it ,, you will know what you have ..and can enjoy it..
i like classic cars . and without some people taking the time and expense ..well ..... we wouldn't have the......i'm sure you could name a few ...

Answer 5

Yes you do need a brand new one however the good news is that a head gasket is usually less than 20 dollars even brand new! The high cost is due to the labor of ripping the entire top of the motor off to replace that 20 dollar gasket.

Answer 6

sorry you cant buy parts for a cracked head gasket, the head gasket is a one piece item when it cracks or burns through its use is gone you have to buy new ,,, the cost of the gaskets usually isnt too bad $20 to $50 the labor is what will cost ,, it is a big project to replace a head gasket good luck

Answer 7

yes u need a new 1 if u put a used 1 on it will leak and not work. its an expensive job there is the possibility u may need a new head or the engine block is cracked ,u cant tell until the head is removed.be sure the car is worth fixing before u have someone do the job!!!!

Answer 8

If the head is cracked you could possibly buy one in a salvage yard,but I suggest having it resurfaced and checked before installing it... as far as gaskets go absolutely NOT!!! these crush as you torque the head bolts to make your seal,, head gaskets are under extreme pressure...and never should be reused.. they dont cost that much...Do it right ! Good luck

Answer 9

in case you will a junkyard and you'd be finding for a respectable short block,opportunities are high your not likely to be waiting to tell.maximum junkyards are actually not gonna provide help to strip the engine all the way down to work out whats stable or whats undesirable.you purchase the finished ingredient and take your opportunities.Your in simple terms gonna could desire to believe the junkyard salesman.in case you opt for high quality,verify you bypass to the bigger yards.they are able to grant you warranties and are greater nicely conscious of what they are promoting you than the smaller adult men obtainable.all of the bigger yards have each automobile long exceeded by using in the past they even enter the backyard so they are able to tell what's stable and what isnt and then positioned it on record of their computers.you pays an more suitable value ticket at a larger backyard yet you are able to believe them a sprint greater effectual than the smaller yards in the place you pay much less.it quite is gonna be not common to nicely known what your getting,except you are able to actual detect a backyard that assist you to bypass interior the direction of the motor and see whats undesirable and what isnt.A junkyard cant sell a motor if its been stripped of all its areas.additionally smaller junkyards will sell you a junk motor and not comprehend it! they only opt for you to take it abode and verify it out for your self so they dont could desire to worry with it because of the fact they are gonna fee you a restocking fee once you convey it lower back to them.stable luck finding one yet your appropriate guess is to purchase one out of a mag or rapidly from an area areas save.a minimum of you recognize what your getting then without all of the guessing.for the reason which you do own a 5.0,you do know that maximum of them have had the crap ran outta them and those you do discover in a junkyard are commonly wiped out or in simple terms completely crapped out!Its a not common motor to kill even though it does ensue.stable luck!

Answer 10

You can buy at a junk yard, of course.
But it depends on the engine you use.
If it is kinda common, don't worry.
But if you need only a gasket, you'd better buy a new one. It's cheap.