By 01Bri-Guy

Removing engine heads is a fairly complicated procedure, and the details vary from car to car. If you want to remove your engine heads, you will need some time, patience, and basic automotive tools. Here is a very basic overview on how to remove engine heads.

 

Remove your engine heads in a clean, well lit, organized garage. Make sure that you have all of the tools you will need laid out and accessible. This will make the whole process much easier.

 

Disconnect or remove the car battery and air cleaner assembly. Disconnecting the battery is very important so you don't get electrocuted or shocked, and so the car doesn't accidentally start. Sometimes removing the car battery will allow you extra working space inside the engine compartment. Removing the air cleaner will also free up space, and you will need it gone to access the head.

 

Raise your vehicle in the air, and support it with jack stands. This is important because you will need the under side to be completely accessible in order to drain fluids, unplug electrical connectors, and get to other components in order to remove your engine heads. Make SURE that your vehicle is completely stable and solidly supported by the jack stands before getting underneath. Do not under any circumstance get underneath while the vehicle is resting on the jack, as those hydraulic seals can fail, causing the car to fall and a serious accident.

 

Drain all of the motor oil, and engine coolant. To drain the oil just remove the drain plug from the oil pan, and locate the oil filter and spin it off in a counter clockwise motion; if it does not come off by hand you may need an oil filter wrench. To drain the engine coolant, there is usually a valve on the bottom of the radiator near one of the corners. There is usually a drain plug on the engine block itself as well, and removing that will speed up the process.

 

Unplug all of the electrical connectors and vacuum lines that will interfere with removal of the engine heads. This includes any grounds which bolt directly to the head, the spark plug wires, and any sensor connectors. Make sure to note their location. Sometimes it helps to either take digital pictures, or use masking tape and a marker to label the connections.

 

Remove the fuel supply. If you have a carbureted engine, then you need to remove the carburetor and the fuel supply lines enough so you can remove the engine head or heads. If you have a fuel injected engine, then just unbolt the fuel rail with the injectors on it and swing it out of the way.

 

Remove any accessories, brackets, or hoses that will interfere with removal of the head or heads. This might include a power steering pump or alternator. Make sure to remove any engine coolant hoses that run from the car to the head, or from the head to the heater core near the engine firewall. Now is a good time to remove the thermostat as well.

 

If you have a Single or Dual overhead cam engine you will need to remove the timing chain or belt. This can get pretty tricky, and from this step on it is a good idea to consult a service manual like Haynes or Alldata that is specific to your exact vehicle. The basic procedure for this is to remove the timing chain cover and compress the timing chain tensioner. When the tensioner is compressed there will be enough slack in the chain or belt to slide it off of the sprockets.

 

Remove the intake and exhaust manifolds. To remove the intake manifold you will need to have the air cleaner assembly off of the car as well as the fuel delivery source already removed. After this you will need to make sure that any electrical connectors are unplugged and then loosen all of the nuts and bolts, and with a slight wiggling motion, remove the manifold. If it is stuck, then gently pry up near the corners with a pry bar until it begins to give. Do the same thing for the exhaust manifold. Some of the bolts on the exhaust manifold may be hard to get out or may break, or suddenly break loose. Spraying them with penetrating oil will help. This is due to being subjected to a constant cycle of hot and cold. Watch your knuckles on this step.

 

Remove the valve/cam cover and cams if applicable. If your engine is an overhead cam engine you will need to remove the cams and cam cover. Remove the bolts to the cam cover slowly and about a quarter turn each until they are finger loose. Do this in an alternating criss cross pattern so you don't take all of them out in one area first, warping the cover. Then remove the cams. If your engine is an overhead valve engine, just remove the valve cover.

 

Remove the head bolts and the head or heads. The head bolts will be VERY hard to turn, and may require you to slip a pipe over the end of your ratchet to get enough leverage. Remove the head bolts in quarter turn increments, in a criss cross pattern until they are all finger loose, this prevents warping the head. Once they are all out, gently pry up on the corners of the head being careful not to damage the engine block surface. Once it has been broken loose, reach in with TWO hands and lift it out.