9 replies to this topic

[Madmax]

Hey guys,

Removing the cylinder head off my 1275GT due to 3 snapped studs on the thermostat housing, it seems easier to just replace the head for 20 quid rather than spend all that time re-tapping the threads. Have removed all of the head bolts in the right order, 1/4 turns at a time, then tried to lift off the head (as it should do, fairly easily) and it just wont budge.

So

then i tried turning the car over with the spark plugs still in place, to try and break the seal on the head gasket, the head still didnt budge after that.

So

removed all of the head bolts, bar one, which is stuck fast, and with all my weight and flappyplastics, we couldnt budge it, then guess what...tried to move it, and it still wouldnt budge!

it feels to me as if the heads seized on, or maybe its just sooooooo tight that we arent strong enough to budge it, any ideas on how i can remove the head ASAP guys?

the attatched picture is what it looks like right now.

James

[cowboy]

had a few of these in the past.

a plastic hammer is what i have found to be the best, give it some good taps (hard hits) below the thermostat housing, has done the job

alternativlly, a large bar under the rocker shaft(ONLY IF YOU DONT INTEND USING ANY OF THE ITEMS FROM THE HEAD AND PRISE UP AND DOWN UNTIL IT FREE'S OFF) :grin:

hope you get it off soon.

[Bluemini]

Try turnig the head, sometimes they get loads of C**p down the head stud holes and jam on. I had one once that i couldnt even budge with a sledg hammer, but mannaged to turn it off, unscrewing the stud with the head. Or you might find someone has put the head on and used gasket paste, if thats the case, just keep trying...

[bluebottle]

you could try wedging a screwdriver between the head and the waterpump, just to see if you can get it moving...

[adam c]

I did mine today and it was stuck on one of the studs so i just took the stud out and it came off eventually but since you've taken all of them out i have no ideas?? If you try turning it them don't forget to take push rods out else it might cause a few problems! (you'll have to remove the rockers to get them out)
Good luck...

[philster]

You could put the spark plugs back, stand well back and turn the engine over, i would imagine the compression itself would be enough to free it. We had this once with an old ford pinto engine and someone had used loctite (eek!) and not used a head gasket. We removed all the studs from the block and turned the engine over without starting it, this didn't work so my dad (who's a bit mental) decided to reconnect the ignition and try to start it. it ran for a few seconds and then stalled. This freed the head but it turned out the whole lot was bin fodder anyway!

[adam c]

Sounds like it might work but i'd leave the ignition off and take the rockers off so none of the valves open, maybe have ago at it with a mallet at the same time???

[siggy]

Remover the rocker shaft and push rods. Use a prybay (note prybar not screwdriver) and carefully lever. Its probably just the seal of the gasket.

Siggy

[Madmax]

i`ll give that a go tomorrow, thanks for the advice guys, once the heads off, do you think i should just leave that single stuck head bolt where it is? if its stuck fast now, it aint gonna go anywhere is it.

J

[Madmax]

tried twisting head off...still stuck, tried hitting the block with plastic and metal hammers, wont budge at all, got a 6ft3 gorilla to try pull it off, just ended up lifting the car............ gonna give it another go tomorrow, with a rather large hammer and plank.... if it doesnt work then the engines coming out


James