Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

Fig. 6 Cylinder Head Bolt Tightening Sequence:

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Drain cooling system and disconnect hoses from thermostat housing.
3. Remove air cleaner, then the valve cover.
4. Remove rocker arm cap screws, bridges and pivots, then the rocker arms and pushrods. Retain pushrods, bridge, pivot and rocker arms in the same order as removed to facilitate installation in the original positions.
5. If equipped with power steering, remove power steering pump retaining bracket, then position bracket and pump assembly aside. Do not disconnect hoses from pump.
6. Remove intake and exhaust manifolds from cylinder head.
7. If equipped with A/C, remove compressor drive belt and loosen alternator belt.
8. Remove A/C compressor/alternator bracket to cylinder head mounting screw, if equipped.
9. Remove remaining bolts and position alternator and A/C compressor aside.
10. Disconnect ignition wires and remove spark plugs.
11. Disconnect temperature sender wire connector, then remove cylinder head retaining bolts.
12. Remove cylinder head and gasket.

INSTALLATION

1. Thoroughly clean gasket mating surfaces.
2. Apply a suitable sealant to both sides of cylinder head gasket. Position head gasket, with word TOP facing upward, on cylinder block.
3. Install cylinder head.
4. Apply a suitable sealant to threads of No. 8 head bolt.
5. Torque head bolts in sequence shown in Fig. 6 as follows:
a. Torque all bolts except No. 8 to 85 ft. lbs.
b. Torque bolt No. 8 to 75 ft. lbs.
6. Reverse removal procedure to finalize installation.