Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

Cylinder head tightening sequence:

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove intake manifold.
3. Remove exhaust manifold(s).
4. Remove AIR pipe from rear of cylinder head.
5. Remove air pump mounting bolt and spacer from right side cylinder head.
6. Remove engine accessory attaching bolts and studs from cylinder head. For the left side cylinder head assembly, it may be necessary to loosen the remaining bracket bolts to provide clearance for head removal.
7. Remove spark plug wires from plug brackets.
8. Remove ground strap from right side cylinder head.
9. Disconnect coolant sensor electrical connector from left side cylinder head.
10. Remove rocker arm cover.
11. Remove spark plugs.
12. Remove pushrods. Keep pushrods in order removed on a clean workbench. Ensure to install pushrods into cylinder from which they were removed.
13. Remove cylinder head bolts, cylinder head and gasket.
14. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Coat cylinder head bolt threads with sealer.
b. Using sequence shown in Fig. 5, tighten cylinder head bolts in three steps: in first step, torque to 25 ft. lbs., in second step, torque to 45 ft. lbs. and, finally, torque to 65 ft. lbs. in third step.
c. Adjust valves.