Replacing Head Gasket- what else should I look into?

[cvtroger]

Welcome to the forums.

I bought my previa with a blown head gasket with intentions of rebuilding it. Since I bought my van with 245,000, I figure it would be best to replace things as I go along. I plan to have this van for a very long time, so I didn't mind the amount of money I put into it.

You could simply replace the head gasket and have the head checked and replace water pump and that could be it.

My mentality was to make the engine new as possible and to gradually change parts out as I go through each system. I also take the preventative maint. approach since I want this van to be reliable. This can be expensive, but it is the approach I am taking. I wanted to buy a new Sienna, but figured, I could do the same to a Previa and make it "new".

So I had my motor fully redone. I did have high mileage and I dont know if the previous owner drove it with the BHG or how long it sat, so I figured I needed to address the cooling system.

As you have the motor out, it is good to clean out the EGR system.

The beginning of the year, my transmission started to fail and then my first gear would felt like neutral. I came upon the same dilemma, do I replace or rebuild. I took it to a ATRA transmission shop and he gave me a good price with a fully rebuild transmission (gears and all) and even with a shift kit. Even changed out the transmission mounts (which were shot anyway). I asked the owner of the shop if he was going to swap transmissions and he told me he rebuilds them from the ground up.

For me, it is worth it and I absolutely enjoy my van. So much, I'm buying a motor to take apart and put together and buy another previa when it is all done (there area few for around $500 with BHG on CL).

I just updated my rebuild list (I just changed out the front end steering components and wheel bearings).