Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

Tighten cylinder head bolts a little at a time in steps in the sequence shown in the illustrations. Final tightening should be to the torque specifications listed in the Engine Tightening table. After tightening the bolts to specifications, they should not be disturbed.

Fig. 4 Cylinder Head Tightening Sequence:

Fig. 13 Intake manifold tightening sequence. V8-255, 302 & V8-351W:

Fig. 6 Valve Clearance Adjustment:

V8-255, 302

1. Remove intake manifold and carburetor or throttle body as an assembly.
2. Disconnect battery ground cable at cylinder head.
3. If left head is being removed, remove A/C compressor (if equipped). Also remove and wire power steering pump out of the way. If equipped with Thermactor System, disconnect hose from air manifold on left cylinder head.
4. If right head is to be removed, remove alternator mounting bracket bolt and spacer, ground wire and air cleaner inlet duct.
5. If right head is to be removed on an engine with Thermactor System, remove air pump from bracket. Disconnect hose from air manifold.
6. Disconnect exhaust manifolds at exhaust pipes.
7. Remove rocker arm covers. If equipped with Thermactor System, remove check valve from air manifold.
8. Remove fulcrum bolts, oil deflector (if used), fulcrum and rocker arms. On all engines, remove pushrods. Keep push rods and rocker arm components in order so they may be installed in original position.
9. Remove head bolts and lift head off block.
10. Reverse procedure to install. Torque cylinder head bolts in sequence shown in Fig. 16, and on carbureted models, torque intake manifold bolts in sequence shown in Fig. 17. On 1982 V8-255 and 1982-87 V8-302 engines, before installing intake manifold, apply a 1/8 inch bead of silicone rubber sealer D6AZ-19563-A or B or equivalent at mating surfaces of intake manifold, cylinder heads and cylinder block, Fig. 15. Also apply a 1/16 inch bead of sealer to the outer end of each intake manifold seal for the full width of the seal.
On V8-302 engines equipped with cork intake manifold seals, both the front and rear seals should be replaced with RTV sealer. Apply a 1/4 inch bead of sealer to the front and rear sealing surfaces of engine block.