Hi folks,

I have a blown head gasket and am working on pulling the head myself though Ive never done it.

I dug around the DIYs to see if anyone had put one up but no luck.

The first thing I did was remove all the intake manifold, fuel lines and the nuts to the exhaust manifold.

then I took the valve cover off.

Now Im a bit stuck. Im sure there are other items I have to remove before the head bolts.

Speaking of the headbolts. I can see them on the drivers side but they are hidden on the passenger side under some of the camshaft housing.

How do I get to them before messing something up?

I do have a ton of questions but Ill keep it basic for this first post.

Exhaust manifold: I see from removing the nuts that the head would have to slide to the drivers side to remove it. Should I have loosened the exhaust pipes under the car so I push manifold to the left to allow me to just lift off the head instead of sliding in?

If anyone has done a DIY I sure would appreciate it since Im kinda flying blind...HAHA

Thanks for any help yall can provide.

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Come on fellas...

about 90 folks have looked at this post and no one has pulled a head off? or know where a DIY is?

Im renting a car since this one is out of commission so time is not my friend.

thanks in advance

You will need to get the cam sprocket out of the way (put everything at top dead center #1) and then remove the cams. You will want to get the exh pipe off from the exh manifold. Do you have the proper socket for the head bolts? You can use a yellow scotch brite pad on a die grinder to clean the aluminum head. Use the green scotch brite on the cast iron block. Go ahead and plan on replacing the timing chain tensioner rail and guides while the head is off (you will want to remove the timnig cover). Also replace the oil pump chain tensioner rail while it is apart.

__________________
Jim

I've done this a couple of times following the steps in the service manual which I take it you do not have. I'll try and copy/paste relevant pages - don't know if I can do that here or not so send me a PM with an email address and I'll try and forward there.

Off the top of my head, though:

- unbolt various things attached to the head including the serp belt tensioner, dipstick tube, EGR pipe around back of head, coolant pipe back of head near oil filter. I think you already go the rest.
- I left the Ex manifold on, just separate the clamp at top of the converter
- set engine to #1 TDC.
- zip tie the timing chain to the cam sprocket
- remove the timing chain tensioner
- remove the top chain rail pin(s)
- unbolt cam sprocket and maintain upward tension on chain. (i hooked a bungie cord from sprocket to the extended arm of my engine hoist.
- remove the camshafts. They come up and out as a unit with the frame that holds them. There is a specific bolting/unbolting pattern to be followed to avoid damaging the camshafts. Head bolts will then be visible.
- You'll need the proper star bit to fit the head bolts. There is a pattern to follow when loosening/tightening the bolts, (which should be replaced with new bolts.)
- lift the head up and fish the timing chain/sprocket through while maintaining upward tension.

As I said, I'll see if I can provide info off the disc.

PM send to Fred.. thanks

You have five e-mails waiting.

.

thanks Roy..

Should be good to have the second half of this thread. Or the 5 emails of info posted