So im replacing my blown head gasket.i was wondering is there any thing i should know besides the norm (ie.get head resurfaced,get new headbolts(dont have to but should) get new intake and exhaust gaskets)
Im after the little things i should know like how not to snap cam bracket bolts
while taking them off.
and other little things not listed in the repair manual and faster ways or doing this without cutting cornors.
thanks… --=Kris
hmmmmm, to snap the cam brackets loosen all the bolts a couple turns and either use a rubber mallet to pop them off the head or if you must use a screwdriver and pry over a non-critical surface against the camshaft.
i found it much easier to remove the head with the intake manifold attached and then remove it. Be careful doing this because you will probably break the breather chamber hose underneath the IM. If you mark the belt relation to the cam gears and tie the belt down after the head is off, the belt wont move and you wont have to re-time your cams, just line them up. It isnt really hard, just time consuming. Make sure you have lots of counter space for laying parts out. I ;m not really sure what all is considered a short cut because i only read the manual for the torque specs.
If you have the head removed for a long period of time (going to shop to resurface) drape a cloth or towel over the block and remember there may still be coolant in the IM when you remove it, i spilled some into the open cylinders and had to be meticulous in cleaning them out.
Definitely keep moisture out of your cylinders, or you will have to remove rust later. It’s not that hard just a PITA. It helps to oil the cylinders a little bit periodically. You don’t have to get your head or block resurfaced unless they’re actually warped. Find a good straight edge and check. Also, don’t forget to adjust your rocker arms when you’re done. Something else you might want to do when you have it apart is replace your valve seals if they’re old (make sure you have the right tools first)…but that’s a whole other job.
The cam guides came out easily for me with the screwdriver/camshaft method and by wiggling while pulling.
Another way to make sure your cam gears are lined up right is to set the crankshaft to TDC using the mark on the pulley and making sure the arrows on the cam gears are pointing up, it should line up just right that way.
Thanks guys! I didnt think about the mallet thing but i snapped a bolt while tring to take the bolt out. i was thinking use a air-wrench to take them off and maybe they wont snap?
It was stated already that you should adjust your valves when reassembling. If you keep the rocker arms in the exact location you pulled them from when putting them back in you should not need a valve adjustment, although it would be recommended since your motor is probably old and hasn’t had one in too long anyways.
Main thing though is to just make sure to put everything back where it came from and not to mix things up(rocker arms, cam caps-although marked, remember the smaller length bolts for the cam caps go on the outside, etc.)
The last post opened my eyes to why my car won’t start after I changed my head gasket and valve seals. I noticed that I had more trouble putting the cams back on than taking them off. I mean, they didn’t just sit in place like they would when I first removed the cam brackets. I had to press them down to get the cam brackets back on. When I tightened the brackets, it caused the rockers to slightly compress a few of the vavle springs. When I tried to start the engine(many, many times), It sounds like it’s struggling to make one turn of the crank. I was thinking that it was because to cam brackets were over tightenend but now, I’m thinking that I didn’t adjust the rockers - especially the supertight ones. I’m gonna go back and re-adjust them again and see what happens.
i just pulled the head off my motor yesterday… Wasn’t too difficult but time consuming… I ended up taking the intake manifold off but I’m sure as stated that you could do without… Make sure you clean the surfaces well and check for straightness of the surfaces. If you have any questions let me know as I will be installing the new gasket either today or tomorrow… Installation will probably be a little more difficult…