Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

Cylinder head tightening sequence:





1. Disconnect battery ground cable and remove engine cover.
2. Remove intake and exhaust manifolds. Refer to, Engine/Intake Manifold/Service and Repair Service and Repair
Refer to Exhaust System/Exhaust Manifold/Service and Repair Service and Repair also.
3. If working on the right side cylinder head, remove the following:
a. Air pipe.
b. Air pump mounting bolt with spacer.
c. Engine wiring harness, clip and ground strap.
4. If working on the left side cylinder head, remove the following:
a. Air pipe.
b. Fuel pipes and bracket.
c. Coolant sensor wire.
d. Cruise control transducer bracket.
5. On either head, remove any other engine accessory brackets, bolts and studs that may interfere with head removal.
6. Remove valve cover, then disconnect spark plug wires and remove spark plugs.
7. Remove rocker arms and pushrods.
8. Remove cylinder head attaching bolts, then the cylinder head. Before installing cylinder head, check gasket surfaces on both head and block for nicks or heavy scratches. Bolt threads in block and threads on head bolts must be clean, as dirt will affect bolt holding power.
9. On engines using steel gasket, coat both sides of gasket using suitable sealer. On engines equipped with steel/asbestos type gasket, no sealer should be used.
10. Place gasket in position over dowel pins, then carefully lower cylinder head into place.
11. Coat threads of cylinder head bolts with suitable sealer, then install bolts finger tight.
12. Using sequence shown in Fig 8., torque cylinder head bolts to 65 ft. lbs. in several passes.
13. Install intake manifold.
14. Install exhaust manifold.
15. Install valve train, then adjust valves. Refer to, Engine/Cylinder Head Assembly/Valve, Intake/Exhaust/Adjustments. Adjustments