I have a 1986 automatic first bought in California. The previous owner had started removing the heads. It had jumped time. I am having trouble getting the driver's side head off. Everything is loose but the rear of the head contacts the brake booster before it is completely free of the back two studs. Is it necessary to remove the master cylinder and booster to get the head off?

 

Are you trying to do this with the engine in place? As far as I know you cannot do it with the engine in place. The studs are too long and will not allow you to get teh head clear. Engine needs to come out.

 

The short answe is yes. I have removed mine from the 85 without removing the booster but I had to use a wood wedge to push the head up enough off the block to squeeze the head off. Also had to put a thin piece of wood between the top of the head and the booster (didn't want the head to directly contact the booster). After that, I trimmed the back lower head stud a few mm so that the installation was easy. A few years later I had to pull that head again and the shorter stud made all the difference. Most people will tell you to remove the engine.

 

What if one removes the driver's side engine mount bolts and loosens the passenger side a bit, then lifts on the driver's side of the pan- would that rotate the drivetrain enough for the head to clear, or just make things worse?

 

I think that would make things worse. Unless you can lift and rotate the engine a lot. BUT this gave me an idea, remove/disconect the engine mounts and move the engine sideways towards the passanger side enough to pull the head. It doesn't need much, maybe a couple cm.

 

Please, just pull the engine and save yourself a boat load of time and effort.
Also the end results will be stellar compared to trying to do in place.

S4 = bolts, can do.
S3 = studs, why bust ur b's, not enough room to do it correctly.

 

I guess I'll pull the engine. I was just taking an inventory to see if the car is worth fixing. I have an 84s that I drive. Thanks for the suggestions. Live and learn.

 

It is not all that hard to remove an Engine in an S3 Auto, sounds like a lot of work is already done too.

Dave

 

That's true but sometimes you don't have the extra room to keep the engine outside of the car.