Can't get right side cylinder head off

Topic: Can't get right side cylinder head off (Read 2021 times) previous topic - next topic

Can't get right side cylinder head off

June 29, 2015, 08:33:59 PM

I've been working at this for an hour now. My passenger side cylinder head is stuck on the block. I can swivel the head back and forth, but the side closest to the firewall is stuck on something. I think it may be a dowel pin or something, but it's stuck on there so good (it feels really solid). I removed the 10 main bolts, the 3 that connect to the alternator, and 2 more on the back closest to the firewall. Is there a 3rd bolt that I'm missing on the back of the head? I am completely stumped.

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #1 – June 29, 2015, 09:09:02 PM

Did you remove the smog cross over tube between the heads?

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #2 – June 29, 2015, 09:33:16 PM

Where does the smog crossover tube attach to the cylinder head?

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #3 – June 29, 2015, 10:13:19 PM

Quote from: Nbrooks;449311

Where does the smog crossover tube attach to the cylinder head?

Back of the cylinder head by the firewall. This is on a 5.0 car. I have no idea on a 3.8 if that's what you're working on.

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #4 – June 29, 2015, 10:46:20 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;449310

Did you remove the smog cross over tube between the heads?

But I don't think that would allow rotating head on deck surface... And would not be a issue at all if drivers head is already removed... There are hollow dowels at each end of block but I can't imagine those hanging you up...

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #5 – June 29, 2015, 10:51:50 PM

I should have specified, Yes I am working on a 5.0, I have removed 2 bolts in the back of the head by the firewall. one of those bolts held a bracket welded to a metal pipe (which I am assuming is the smog crossover tube), the other bolt was a grounding wire.

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #6 – June 29, 2015, 10:56:49 PM

One side of the cylinder head i can lift freely, the other side, can swivel around, it seems to be swiveling about where the other dowel would be, but it's stuck on the block and won't pull away, which is making me second guess myself about removing all the bolts.

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #7 – June 29, 2015, 11:40:57 PM

Did you get all the bolts out? If you did it should lift freely. Here are the locations of all the bolts:http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/5-0l-talk/58290d1231167102-whats-torque-foot-lbs-head-bolts-head-torque.jpg

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #8 – June 30, 2015, 01:03:36 AM

The cylinder heads are exact copies of each other. If one came off the other should.

With it swiveling away from the block around the dowel, maybe the dowel somehow got stuck in the head instead of block?

Unless there is. Bolt in the place of the dowel hole, i doubt your missing a bolt, and even if you were, it probably wouldn't allow you to lift the head enough to feta it past the other dowel to rotate it. The head bolts are torqued to somewhere around 85ftlbs. Your not gonna wiggle the head around a bolt torqued like that

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #9 – June 30, 2015, 10:06:25 AM

Alright I finally got the head off, turns out the dowel was stuck in the block and between that and the exhaust manifold in the way we weren't able to pull it up and over the dowel. I went ahead and unbolted the exhaust manifold on the other head and it dropped down about half an inch on both sides and left us enough clearance to take the head off the dowel.

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #10 – June 30, 2015, 02:15:26 PM

You were trying to lift a cast iron head off the block with the cast iron exhaust manifold attached? You're crazy sir :hick:

Can't get right side cylinder head off

Reply #11 – June 30, 2015, 03:29:18 PM

When I did the head gasket on my 2.3 fairmont, I lifted it off using my cherry picker, lol. My back gets pulled easily, and I don't take chances lifting things while bent in awkward positions.