View Poll Results: Engine in or out to do Head gaskets (16V)???
Pull the engine
26
72.22%
Leave it in
10
27.78%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll
Engine in or out to do head gaskets???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 371
Likes: 10
From: La Pallu, France
Engine in or out to do head gaskets???
Hi Guys,
Can't seem to find a definitive answer on this one -
Car is a 1986 ROW 16v Auto (RHD) that needs head gaskets doing.
Can these be done without pulling the engine or is the hassle not worth it?
WSM seems to suggest that the job can be done engine in car, but I thought there was a space issue getting the heads off due to the use of studs rather than bolts on the earlier cars?
Can't seem to find a definitive answer on this one -
Car is a 1986 ROW 16v Auto (RHD) that needs head gaskets doing.
Can these be done without pulling the engine or is the hassle not worth it?
WSM seems to suggest that the job can be done engine in car, but I thought there was a space issue getting the heads off due to the use of studs rather than bolts on the earlier cars?
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Bend, Oregon
If it were --just-- head gaskets, leaving it in the car would be tempting. But there's lots of other stuff to do and lots of casual damage that can happen to the car doing it in place. Buy beer and burgers, invite locals, have an engine-pull party. Hoist is a rental-yard piece, engine stands are loaned out to others so they are out of our way between uses. I gave away my stand 'cuz I didn't use it enough to justify the room it used up.
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From: Chicago Bears
DO NOT PULL THE ENGINE! The 16v head with studs can be removed with the engine in the car easily enough without resorting to the excessive hours and hours required to pull and replace the engine, ...just to do head gaskets.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Up Nort
If all you're going to do is head gaskets, then:
DO NOT PULL THE ENGINE!
The 16v head with studs can be removed with the engine in the car easily enough without resorting to the excessive hours and hours required to pull and replace the engine, ...just to do head gaskets.
DO NOT PULL THE ENGINE! The 16v head with studs can be removed with the engine in the car easily enough without resorting to the excessive hours and hours required to pull and replace the engine, ...just to do head gaskets.
It is impossible to properly torque the cam towers with the motor in the car.
I suppose we could start cutting more holes in the fender like the clutch master job to gain access to the lower cam tower bolts.....
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,747
Likes: 3
From: Owasso, OK
The toughest part of pulling the heads in situ is getting the exhaust studs out. I was able to double nut the studs and remove the heads on my 78 euro in less than one day. I do feel very lucky in that I didn't have any problem with the bolts breaking on the thermostat housing bridge or exhaust as many have.
I would have the heads resurfaced (top and bottom) irregardless of how they are removed.
Dennis
I would have the heads resurfaced (top and bottom) irregardless of how they are removed.
Dennis
Captain Obvious
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
I've pulled and replaced the heads on my 16V with the engine in the car. It was a long time ago (back in 2000), but I don't remmeber anything being to difficult. Heck I did it, twice, on a 32V and that was near impossible to pull of. The 16V was a cake walk comapred to the DOHC engine.
Captain Obvious
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
The toughest part of pulling the heads in situ is getting the exhaust studs out. I was able to double nut the studs and remove the heads on my 78 euro in less than one day. I do feel very lucky in that I didn't have any problem with the bolts breaking on the thermostat housing bridge or exhaust as many have.
I would have the heads resurfaced (top and bottom) irregardless of how they are removed.
Dennis
I would have the heads resurfaced (top and bottom) irregardless of how they are removed.
Dennis
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,578
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From: Banished to the SBC Wastelands
I have done it 3 times in car. It can be done. However if you strip a cam bolt, life will suck. I'd spend the time to pull it and giver a good cleaning.
I can pull the engine by myself in about 2 hours and put it back in about 2 more. By myself, with friends (of which I have none) should take an hour. Changing head gaskets in car was always a 2-3 day job full of cursing, busted nuckles, and muscle pains from trying to contort to odd angles to get things out.
I found I could get heads of with exhuast manifolds still attached. Easier to break the 3 bolt flange than trying to get the 8 stud nuts off.
I can pull the engine by myself in about 2 hours and put it back in about 2 more. By myself, with friends (of which I have none) should take an hour. Changing head gaskets in car was always a 2-3 day job full of cursing, busted nuckles, and muscle pains from trying to contort to odd angles to get things out.
I found I could get heads of with exhuast manifolds still attached. Easier to break the 3 bolt flange than trying to get the 8 stud nuts off.