I have a horrible feeling my T4 van's head gasket is toast

[mangocrazy]

That's a lot to stick into an old van IMO.

Yeah, take your point. Probably time to step back and see what the cost to change will be. If I had a clear preference for a replacement it might be an easier choice, but I don't. I've got until spring 2025 before I actually need a van (we have a car for general runabout stuff) so no need to be hasty.

[Noggin]

But as said, who knows why someone is offloading the next one you buy? How hard can a head gasket be to change anyway (yes I know the head / block may be distorted).

How many people 'offload' cars because they're problems ? Rather than "i just want a new vehicle".. Plenty of people buy, sell, change, swap cars or vans, doesn't mean they're fucked.
Plenty of vans are bought on contract purchases, plenty bought for VAT/work reasons and swapped at a certain time/age/miles... Nothing more than that necessarily.

I know that you are right, mostly.

But on the flip side I'm still paying for a van I bought for the business that blew up ten days later and the garage refused to cancel the sale - by the time the bailiffs went in to try and recoup the money, they'd closed the business leaving at least one other customer in a similar position to me (the bailiffs had been there for another case exactly like mine a few days before). It's cost me at least twice what the price was

In manogcrazy's position I think (if the MOT was good) I'd be pretty tempted to not 'waste' what I'd spent so far and spend the rest - at least then I'd have a van that would last a decent amount of time and no worries for the replacement

But I'm not the best vehicle buyer!!

[mangocrazy]

Just had confirmation from another source that £2k-£2.5k for a head gasket repair is a fair price. Not many garages even want the work, as it's time consuming and ties up a ramp and mechanic for 3 or 4 days.

[mangocrazy]

OK, I think we may have A Plan. I spoke to a guy I know who runs an engineering shop in Clay Cross and he suggested I ring AW Engineering in Darwen, as they are T4 specialists and will either supply and fit a recon engine or will fit a new cylinder head and gasket to my block. They do all the recon work themselves, reboring, valve seat cutting, re-facing the head etc. etc. and are much more reasonable on price. I was given a ball-park quote of £1000 + VAT to supply and fit a recon head with new valves, valve stem seals, re-cut valve seats and hydraulic tappets and new head gasket to my engine, and that price includes all labour.

I think I'm going to bite his hand off...

[Rockburner]

OK, I think we may have A Plan. I spoke to a guy I know who runs an engineering shop in Clay Cross and he suggested I ring AW Engineering in Darwen, as they are T4 specialists and will either supply and fit a recon engine or will fit a new cylinder head and gasket to my block. They do all the recon work themselves, reboring, valve seat cutting, re-facing the head etc. etc. and are much more reasonable on price. I was given a ball-park quote of £1000 + VAT to supply and fit a recon head with new valves, valve stem seals, re-cut valve seats and hydraulic tappets and new head gasket to my engine, and that price includes all labour.

I think I'm going to bite his hand off...

Is that to a loose engine? or a drive-in/drive-out service?

[KungFooBob]

With the difference you could get it blueprinted and gas flowed, maybe even a spicy cam

[Rockburner]

With the difference you could get it blueprinted and gas flowed, maybe even a spicy cam

hmm - what's the best paint job for a T4?? Mystery Machine or A-Team?


(in the vein of "useless ways to throw money at a van")

[iansoady]

I seem to get the ones that have problems - whether bikes or cars.....

[KungFooBob]

With the difference you could get it blueprinted and gas flowed, maybe even a spicy cam

hmm - what's the best paint job for a T4?? Mystery Machine or A-Team?


(in the vein of "useless ways to throw money at a van")

[mangocrazy]

OK, I think we may have A Plan. I spoke to a guy I know who runs an engineering shop in Clay Cross and he suggested I ring AW Engineering in Darwen, as they are T4 specialists and will either supply and fit a recon engine or will fit a new cylinder head and gasket to my block. They do all the recon work themselves, reboring, valve seat cutting, re-facing the head etc. etc. and are much more reasonable on price. I was given a ball-park quote of £1000 + VAT to supply and fit a recon head with new valves, valve stem seals, re-cut valve seats and hydraulic tappets and new head gasket to my engine, and that price includes all labour.

I think I'm going to bite his hand off...

Is that to a loose engine? or a drive-in/drive-out service?

That's drive in, leave it with him for a few days, then drive out. All I have to find extra is return rail fare from Sheffield to Darwen. Or perhaps pick up & return car hire in Darwen?

[Ditchfinder]

loads of car hire places in Blackburn. My mate is from that neck of the woods and has a T4 - i could ask him about the guys you're taking it too if you'd like?

#edit - I see they are a diesel specialist not a T4 specialist

[mangocrazy]

loads of car hire places in Blackburn. My mate is from that neck of the woods and has a T4 - i could ask him about the guys you're taking it too if you'd like?

#edit - I see they are a diesel specialist not a T4 specialist

Yeah, I'd like to hear an independent view of what they're like. Having said that, I'd trust Jon's judgement as he recommended AW Eng.

[MyLittleStudPony]

Oh well, out of one frying pan, into another frying pan.

[mangocrazy]

Oh well, out of one frying pan, into another frying pan.

Owning an old vehicle. Goes with the turf, innit?

[Taipan]

As a former car dealer i can tell you loads of people try and slyly p/x knackered cars, but it doesn't mean we take them. Private sales are often more dodgy with no legal comeback either. Bottom line is always take a vehicle on its own merits before you trust its service history. and owners reason for sale stories...

[mangocrazy]

As a former car dealer i can tell you loads of people try and slyly p/x knackered cars, but it doesn't mean we take them. Private sales are often more dodgy with no legal comeback either. Bottom line is always take a vehicle on its own merits before you trust its service history. and owners reason for sale stories...

That's another reason why I'm apprehensive about buying a 'new' van rather than staying with the Devil I know. To get something half decent I'll need to spend well into five figures and that's a sizeable outlay when you're retired. I know there are plenty of honest car/van dealers around, but there are also a fair number of less than scrupulous ones as well. As for a private sale, I wouldn't even think about it for the reasons you mention.

I'm also not a fan of the way van design is going - loading the things with all the toys that car drivers expect and squeezing ever higher power outputs out of smaller and smaller engines. More recent vans will have catalytic converters, EGR valves and DPFs - my T4 has none of those and is all the better for it. I understand the reason for it - manufacturers are forced down that route because of ever more stringent Euro emissions regs, but I'll stay with my old low-tech van for as long as I can keep it running.

[Mr. Dazzle]

for as long as I can keep it running.

Errr....

[Taipan]

As a former car dealer i can tell you loads of people try and slyly p/x knackered cars, but it doesn't mean we take them. Private sales are often more dodgy with no legal comeback either. Bottom line is always take a vehicle on its own merits before you trust its service history. and owners reason for sale stories...

That's another reason why I'm apprehensive about buying a 'new' van rather than staying with the Devil I know. To get something half decent I'll need to spend well into five figures and that's a sizeable outlay when you're retired. I know there are plenty of honest car/van dealers around, but there are also a fair number of less than scrupulous ones as well. As for a private sale, I wouldn't even think about it for the reasons you mention.

I'm also not a fan of the way van design is going - loading the things with all the toys that car drivers expect and squeezing ever higher power outputs out of smaller and smaller engines. More recent vans will have catalytic converters, EGR valves and DPFs - my T4 has none of those and is all the better for it. I understand the reason for it - manufacturers are forced down that route because of ever more stringent Euro emissions regs, but I'll stay with my old low-tech van for as long as I can keep it running.

When you think about it, vans are typically occupied more than cars and often achieve higher mileages, so adding creature comforts for the driver was an obvious move for manufacturers. Long gone are the days of uncarpeted and uninsulated cabins with manual windows and a basic radio.

I'm with you all the way on the criticism of smaller engines producing higher power though. A cabbie recently told us the best engines he'd ever run were 90s diesels. Most of them achieved starship mileages with no engine work. He reckons cars are much more unreliable today with so many needing engine work as well as multiple sensor failures, DPF issues etc.

[Mr. Dazzle]

best engines

Only if you don't enjoy breathing

I know it's boring etc, but I suspect the "problem" here is that you can't see the reduction in pollution/improvement in air quality but you can very much see the bill you get for a new DPF.

[KungFooBob]

We could reduce air pollution by half overnight. If we had that gold glove thingy with gems on it.