Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

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.

Fig. 7 Cylinder Head Bolt Tightening Sequence:

INSTALLATION

1. Thoroughly clean gasket mating surfaces.
2. Fabricate two alignment dowels from a pair of the longest used head bolts as follows:
a. Cut bolt head off just below the hex head.
b. Cut a slot in the top of the bolt to allow removal with a screwdriver.
3. Install fabricated dowels in cylinder block bolt holes No. 8 and No. 10.
4. Position cylinder head gasket, with numbers facing upward, on cylinder block.
5. Install cylinder head.
6. Apply a suitable sealant to threads of No. 7 head bolt.
7. Install all except No. 8 and No. 10 head bolts.
8. Remove fabricated dowels and install No. 8 and No. 10 head bolts.
9. Torque head bolts in sequence shown in Fig. 7, as follows:
a. Torque bolts 1-10 to 22 ft. lbs.
b. Retorque bolts 1-10 to 45 ft. lbs.
c. Retorque all bolts to 45 ft. lbs.
d. Retorque bolts 1-6 to 110 ft. lbs., bolt 7 to 100 ft. lbs. and bolts 8-10 to 110 ft. lbs.
10. Reverse remaining removal procedure to finalize installation.