Questions on head reinstallation

Level 5 User Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

Got a few questions that are bugging me from last time i installed a head back on my last car.

1) Is it really necessary to use an angle gauge or is there another way. Last time, used a 1/2 angle guage but it kept givng dodgy readings as the entire thing wasn't stable and kept torsion twisting. How close do you have to be to the quoted figures?

2) Can you get away without using cam lube when reinsterting a dry head? If not, any recommendations for the best place to source it on the cheap?

3) Whats the best way to deal with releasing old headbolts. Obviously too much force will snap them so whats the best size breaker bar/extension to use.

I want to make sure this next install goes as smooth as possible.

Thanks for any advice.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

1) yes, I have an angle gauge, its pish, its either guesstimated with accuracy (you can feel the bolts when you do them enough) or I use a cardboard circle cut out and mounted on the socket extension.

2)oil is fine.

3) just loosen them.

Level 5 User Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

Cheers Chris,

Would this do the job better:

http://www.drapertools-online.com:8080/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=13698

Unfortunately haven't had enough experience to guesstimate the tightness.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yeah that will do the job fine mate.

Level 5 User Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

Forgot to ask something in the first post,

I've heard people talk about locking the engine off in mid stroke when removing the head rather than TDC. Something to do with the cams jumping?

So when working on this engine, is it best to leave it at TDC or find mid stroke then remove the head?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

either or mate, either or.

Level 5 User Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

Cheers Chris.

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

im stripping my head at the mo to questions are:-

where can i get new exhaust manifold studs?

if some of the valves are open was it locked in TDC? or does it not matter?

and when you reinstall cams how do you no when there in the right place?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

BB, some of the valves will always be slightly open.

Cams don't have a 'right position' when the head is off the engine.

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

ok,

so how do you know they are back in right? surely they need to be in some sort of correct position for when the pulleys are back on and the cam belt??

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

yeah when you put it back on you need to align the little pips on the cam pullies with the notches on the cam cover, and the crank pulley lined up with its timing mark too.

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

ok sweet so for now it dont matter i dont need to mark them anywhere as im just stripping the head and wont be using the standard cams again

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

nope that's right, you just sling it back together and then turn the cams to the right position as you put the head back on.