As i know you guys have both done numerous head removals, i wanna ask you this:

I have been working at the local wreckers recently, and they have a few Magna's out there that i take parts out of, now i removed my first cylinder head today, and they only go for scrap but i would like to remove them without damaging them, which is waht usually happens, because: i can get everything off okay, but then i get to the cam pulley, i can undo the bolt but i cannot get the f*ing chain off the pulley so i can remove the pulley, any suggestions?

BTW: today when i did it, my main tools for getting the **** off was a sledge hammer and a massive crowbar :P

most chains have a joining link in them that u have to undo....dunno about the cam chain i never did mine.....

i never did mine.....

give it about 1 year :badgrin:

nah i had my chain changed about 30,000km's ago.....but a mechanic mate done it.....

Gee....thats helpful, not so easy when the motor is so seized you cant move it...

angle grinder? cut the chain off....probly needs a new one anyway.... lol

lol, where am i sposed to get the electricity from? this is a WRECKERS YARD, the cars are all boxed in.....no electricity, and i dont think i need to replace it either...

so simple. y do u want the chain anyway? its like cheap as to get a whole new timing chain kit and i think it was around $40 for the chain itself. infact, i have a spare chain if u wanna buy it from me.

but yeah, there is a link u can undo on the chain and it just comes apart. otherwise, jut keep hitting the pulley until it slides off. use some WD40 or something and leave it for 20 mins then come back to it.

wat do u damage anyway?

and oh yes, TC has gone and so its me again

There's the bright link

I can't remember how we unhooked the head the last time, I'll have a look tomorrow evening...

lol, where am i sposed to get the electricity from? this is a WRECKERS YARD, the cars are all boxed in.....no electricity, and i dont think i need to replace it either...
Just use boltcutters.......

Okiez :)

OK. If you have a look where the timing chain joins the head, you'll see a dowel. That'll unhook the camshaft from the timing chain.

With the bolt undone, just use a pry bar or something against the sprocket, just keep wiggling it until it falls off. The chain shouldnt be so tight that it wont come off anyway, the tensioner shouldnt put any significant pressure on it. Ive had the head off a dozen magnas and a little pressure against the back of the sprocket, give it a wiggle, pops off the dowel and you can sit the sprocket on the seat.

Should look something like this.

http://madhatter.idx.com.au/picture%20004.jpg

If the head and manifold are being chucked for scrap, why not take the manifold off with the head? saves unbolting it. I have used this method on the last 2 cars i have done it on, it is so much easier than unbolting the manifold, removing the brace, then trying to get the head out (and back on). It is a great method if all you are doing is a headgasket (just going to replace it and put it back on) or bottom end work with the engine still in the car.

Head and Manifold off in one :)

http://madhatter.idx.com.au/Picture%20005.jpg

Just unbolt the throttle cable and remove the distributor as normal, then remove the 8 or so electrical connectors needed. Just follow the loom. Dont forget the earth from the manifold to the body!. Make sure the rear support bracket is removed, the waterhose, pop the timing chain sprocket off the cam, remove the vacuum hoses (dont forget the line to the PCV), the hose for the fuel pressure regulator (supplies the fuel rail) and you are done.

Seriously, i reccomend it, once you have done it the first time it is super easy, it is so easy to line up the head onto the headgasket too, just line it up and listen to it pop as it slides over the locator dowels. It saves you having to even touch the exhaust manifold, all you do is remove the 2 bolts from the exhaust and let it fall forward. The flexible joint in the exhaust will allow you enough movement to pull the exhaust manifold off the head and you can leave it sitting there like in the first pic.

I have showed a few owners who have previously spent time fussing with the hard to reach nuts on the inlet manifold and they were over the moon :)

I know how to remove a head, im not stupid.....But i was just havign a few little problems getting the timing chain off, its right now.

Also, i was taking off the manifold along with the head, much easier :)

Also, i was taking off the manifold along with the head, much easier :)

Much... much! easier :cool:

Yep 8)

Also, i was taking off the manifold along with the head, much easier :)
General Consensus. Though after the head was off, the manifold's been pulled apart for cleaning...

With the head off i would also get the bugger shaved a little bit and crack tested.

With the head off i would also get the bugger shaved a little bit and crack tested.
:stoopid: its a must to have the hed shaved wen u use it agen

can u get a way with taking a few thou off with efi?

yes you can.

:stoopid: its a must to have the hed shaved wen u use it agen

erm? You dont have to have the head shaved when you use it again, and could you please get some grammar and spelling skills?

I agree with AF. You only need to get the head skimmed if it is warped. Otherwise, it is a simple matter of unbolt, and rebolt.

the EFI head already has 14cc more than the carby head. this is because the EFI head needs to breathe more air. a fun finders fact :)

how do u know if the head is warped after u take it off. u can't physically see the warping. unless u have a set of feeler guages and can check the head for warping urself, it might b a good idea to get 2 thou shaved off or so (thats all they take off). if there is less than 2 thou difference under each part of the head (wen put flat on a KNOWN flat surface) then u wouldnt bother with it. the gasket will fill the 1 thou or so out and u will be fine.

i got 10 thou shaved off my head ages ago and that is nothing. u could try 15 or 20 thou if u wanted. that will up the compression ratio abit.

Best way to tell if its warped or not is to get a metal ruler (or a proper straight edge) and run it over the head, feeler guages are good to.

there are tollerences when you measure from specific points across the head. you can do it with a tape measure too.

are you a mechanic or something? :doubt:

yes :badgrin:

That makes 2 of us...at least :P