Cylinder head removal - please answer soon if you can. :)

[carmangary]

4.3L/260 V8 I have the intake manifold and brackets off the engine and I unbolted the 10 big cylinder head bolts. I did not remove the rockers and pushrods since someone said they can be left on. But, the head won't budge. Is there anything else holding it besides the gasket? Do you normally have to manhandle them to get them to crack loose? Is it true that the rockers can be left bolted on?

 

[blk74nova]

Its common for the head to really be on there. Just make sure all the head bolts are out. The rockers will probably have to be readjusted and it will be a pain in the *ss trying to line up all the pushrods and rocker arms when the head goes back on.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Yes it can be a b*tch. As stated make sure there isn't a head bolt hiding in the grease.I would loosen the rockers and pull the pushrods-or they might fall into the engine.Just keep them in order so they can go back correctly. Try useing a broomstick in a port to rock it off.You can even crank the motor and let the compression pop the head off, but be ready to grab it so I doesn't fall off.

 

[2fit661ca]

When I tore the heads off of my 307, I found it easiest to use a rubber mallet and beat the front and rear (the sides w/o ports) of the head until it breaks free from the gasket. A dead blow might work as well, but only if it's plastic. (maybe this is bad advice, but it worked for me, and so far w/o consequence)

 

[marcar1993]

If you pulled 10 bolts from each head, then all of them are out.
I usually put a broomstick in an intake port and gently pry up until it lets go. Also, you can put in 2 head bolts very loose (barely catching the threads, like 2 or 3 turns) so when it pops off it doesn't fall off.

 

[dan2286]

I like the pry bar in the cooling jacket method.

 

[carmangary]

I pryed it a little on the end and it popped loose and went flying about 5" in the air. Push rods went flying everywhere. No damage, though. It was a bear lifting that out of there by myself with those heater hoses in and all get tangled on it. I'll have more questions about it later but for now it is time for a beer. 🙂 I'll probaby be cleaning sludge from under the intake manifold for a week. It's pretty nasty in there.

 

[carmangary]

Oh yea, as usual, thanks for the tips. 🙂

 

[beermonkey9417]

while ya got em off you might as well get 'em checked for cracks and get a valve job. when i took the heads off my elky i had a head cracked and i got better ones. just a thought.

 

[carmangary]

How much does a valve job cost? I saw on ebay some place is selling remanufactured heads for my engine for $99. I'm almost tempted to just put a new set of heads on it and not worry with messing with it.