heliflyer

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?

Rob Edwards

Pull the engine. While it might be possible to do it in situ, your back will thank you if you just pull the engine out of there. It's a 928 owner rite of passage

RyanPerrella

PULL IT

terry gt

On a 16v I leave the motor in. It helps to lossen the motor mounts ,so you can rock the motor ,using a jack underneath .
Terry

IcemanG17

pull it

sure its "possible" but that doesn't mean its EASIER...

dr bob

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.

GlenL

Pull it if the heads have not been off in the last 5 years.

Do a full re-seal of the engine with new gaskets and seals everywhere. Ya gots the Winter, don't you?

SwayBar

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.

hacker-pschorr

The heads are a piece of cake to remove on a 16V motor, it's the cam towers that are a royal PIA that makes yanking the motor easier.

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.....

Rob Roy

OT - Isle of Skye - whereabouts. My brother-in-law (he's a GP) and family live near Portree. I have cycled and hiked round that island many a time in my youth.

Dennis Wilson

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

Imo000

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.

Imo000

Why did you pull the exhaust maniforld off the heads? They will come off with the heads. Or at least they do on a LHD 928.

RicerSchnitzzle

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.

hacker-pschorr

Ah yes, forgot about that. IIRC I broke all but a couple.