Hey everyone, I need some advice on dealing with a blown head gasket. I have a BDR with a 351W stroker with Edelbrock Vic Jr. heads. 2k miles on the motor. I have been losing a lot of coolant lately and now I know why. I drained the
oil and it looked like cappucino. I also have white smoke from the driver's side exhaust, especially at idle, so I think there's no real doubt what's wrong. I would like some advice on how to deal with it, though.
First and foremost is whether to fix it myself. I assembled the top end of the engine from a 'kit' supplied by a reputable engine builder. It was my first time doing such a thing, so in the back of my mind, I'm worried that maybe I did something wrong when assembling it, and maybe would unknowingly repeat my mistake. (I know that only I can really answer the question, but opinions are still welcome.)
So now, assuming I decide to tackle this myself, I have some more concrete questions:
1. Should I do one or both gaskets? I only have smoke from one side, so I'm assuming only one gasket is bad.
2. How much of a pain is it to R&R the head while the engine is in the car? Has anyone done this job on a BDR? Unfortunately the one I have to change is on the driver's side, and the steering column will make the job more difficult.
3. I know I have to check the head for warpage, but do I also have to be worried about the (iron) block?
4. If the head is warped, and I have to have it flattened, do I have to worry about the compression ratio changing?
5. I assume that I need to use new head bolts, but do I need to use new intake manifold bolts as well?
OK, now, if I decide not to do it myself, can someone recommend a shop in the San Diego area that I could trust to do this job correctly?
Thanks for your input.