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Changing head gasket
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:08 pm
by davidpidge
My head gaskets blown, i'm in the process of changing it but need to know if I can get the head off without removing anything inside the head. I've got everything disconnected but the head won't move.
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:14 pm
by PSL184
Assuming you have removed rocker shaft and all pushrods you will need to use a soft faced mallet to bash the head to free it from the block. Go gently and work your way around the head. As a last resort, crowbar it off but this will damage the mating surfaces
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:21 pm
by davidpidge
I've taken off everything connected to the head but what do i need to remove from the head? Do I need to remove the valve springs etc?
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:22 pm
by PSL184
No, as I said above - just the rocker shaft and push rods....
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:27 pm
by jaekl
I suspect you didn't take off the rocker cover and remove the 9/16 nuts on the rocker pedestals. Hurry before you warp your head.
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:31 pm
by PSL184
Yep, thats what we call the rocker shaft
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:42 pm
by davidpidge
Thanks for the help mate but I think i'm in over my head now! It's going to the pros. Cheers!
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:03 pm
by Mogwai
once the rocker cover is removed you will just need to undo the 8 nuts on the rokershaft pedestals when these are removed the rockershaft can be lifted off then the pushrods removed (good practice to poke them through a piece of card to keep them in order)
once all that's off not forgetting the bypass hose on the waterpump & I assume the other head nuts as your earlier post, the head should just lift off
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:07 pm
by bmcecosse
Be sure to take the small rocker shaft nuts off first - then the larger ones ! If done the other way - stripped threads are possible !!
I've pm'd you the download for the workshop manual. I think you may need it!!
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:11 pm
by mike.perry
In case you are not familiar with it the bypass hose is that fiddly bit of hose just under the front of the cylinder head. It is usually best to change it whilst the head is off so you might as well cut through the middle of it with a junior hacksaw.
Lay eveything out tidily as you take it off so you know what to order to replace the parts in
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:35 pm
by AJT
I found a haynes manual guided me through this really well
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:55 pm
by bmcecosse
Lead to the real manual sent by pm.
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:35 am
by Johnny
I recently changed my head gasket and it was a right cow! The front left hand stud had seized in the stud hole solid it was a fight every millimeter of the way.
Unbelievable. Kinda wish I hadn't started but once it was all back together she ran fine. Until the oil leak, which is now an ongoing headache haha!
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:53 am
by bmcecosse
Where is the oil leaking from ?
Edit - Ahh - I see it in another thread!
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:14 am
by aupickup
leave the spark plugs in and turn the engine with the starting handle, sometimes this will lift the head sufficient to take it off
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:09 pm
by bmcecosse
Most unusual for studs to stick on the A series head - maybe the stud was bent ? There is bags of clearance twixt stud and hole !
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:02 pm
by 8009STEVE
Corrosion?
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:39 pm
by bmcecosse
Must have been - but v unusual - unless the stud was loose in the block and water could run up the stem ??
Usually - dribble some release oil down the stud - two nuts on the stud and turn it back and forth a couple of times - and it will screw out.