FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: 428Marauder on December 07, 2015, 02:48:31 PM
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Have an old 390, trying to remove the heads, seems like I am there, but they wont budge. Someone told me I need to remove the exhaust manifolds. Is that correct? Bolts seem like a royal pita to get to. Any tips?
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Man I've been where you are.
The problem with removing the exhaust manifolds is you can get leverage while on the engine but the bolts will prolly break anyway.
These days since I'm not as strong as I used to be an engine hoist with a little upwards pressure and a dead blow hammer will probably get it done. If you leave the manifolds on then you can get to them and get some penetrant or wax with lots of heat to get them to release.
But it's a bitch no matter what.
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An old trick is to thread in 4 bolts and leave them loose, put the plugs in and then spin the engine over with the starter. Sometimes the compression will pop the head loose. I have also removed them by inserting a pry bar wrapped with a rag into an intake port and gently prying the head loose.
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So, it is possible to remove them without removing the exhaust manifolds?
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Don't see why not if you've disconnected or cut the exhaust pipe.
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Do the exhaust pipe bolts go through to the head? The exhast is cut out, but still connected.
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Yes exhaust manifold bolts go to head only.
Separate from block.
Think I'd use the engine hoist method since it'll be heavy as hell.
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The intake manifold is already removed, as are the 8 obvious bolts where the exhaust manifolds bolt to the heads. But there are more bolts on the underside of the exhaust manifold. These are the hard to get to ones.
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Does anyone know how many of those underneath bolts there are? I got one out so far.
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I'm guessing you have 14 bolt heads on there.
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Any tips on removing them without a hoist?
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Like Falcon I've used a pry bar and a rag. And a dead blow hammer.
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Still needing to get those bolts out though. Or is the idea to try and break them?
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Try not to break them.
They are a lot harder than the head material so if you have to drill them out its tough not to screw up the hole. Just be careful. If you do, then you do. We've all been there.
Again, heat on the head is your friend. Lots of penetrant or wax.
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I got 2 out on one side. The problem is not that they are frozen in there, it's that there is no room to move a socket wrench into position.
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Then you are light years ahead.
You'll get it.
Maybe you can jack up the engine a bit.
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If there's room, just remove the head with the manifold still on. It'll be MUCH easier to get them out once it's out in the open. Once you round off the heads, THEN it's a PITA. Usually the bottom ones never seize up, it's the top ones that do because the back of the threaded hole is exposed to the elements. The bottom ones are sealed.
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If your dealing with a 390 there are only 10 head bolts, 5 under the valve cover and 5 inboard from the exhaust manifold by the spark plugs. The exhaust manifold does NOT have to be remove, as long as the first exhaust pipe is disconnected. If you have 10 bolts out, stick at least one back in but leave it backs off a couple turns. Get a bar in the intake manifold to pop it loose. The bolt will keep the head from falling off the engine when it comes loose. The 10 bolts are 1/2" with a 3/4" socket size.
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What do you mean by "first exhaust pipe"? Sorry if that is a noob question.
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I was hoping, since the exhaust has been cut out, I could just pull all of it out.
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You can.
Did you take out all the bolts that hold the head on. There are ten as described above.
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Yes, got those out. Have hammered a screw driver in where the gasket is, heads still will not come out. Not just the gasket holding it on.
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Hammering a screwdriver under the head is not the best choice. Hopefully it didn't damage anything.
This really shouldn't be that difficult. Sometimes they can be stubborn, but a bit of patience always wins. If you've got a pry bar, try putting leverage on it inside the intake port while hitting the intake side of the head with a dead blow hammer. Sometimes it can take quite a few hits. If you run out of patience that way, try putting leverage on the bar and cutting a 2x4 to wedge under the pry bar and walk away for 24 hrs. The constant leverage should break it loose.
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Ok
I wouldn't use a screw driver for wedging the heads off. No leverage, you'll break the driver and screw up the head/block surface.
Get yourself a pry bar, wrap a rag around the end and carefully lodge it in an intake port.
Gently tap the head with a dead blow hammer while applying some leverage to it.
Don't be an animal. It can break.
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Sorry bout that. Doing this on my phone. My friend Siri must have put the "first" in there. Meant to make sure the exhaust pipe is disconnected
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Ok, my bad, missed the farthest back bolt on both sides, and got them loose. Apparently though the exhaust is still attached somewhere so I will prolly get under there and cut where I need to.
Thanks for all your help guys!
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Hah
Yeah they're kinda rough to get off without those out.
Good luck.
One thing going forward.
The guys here are the best.
Just ask.
Also why not start a thread in members projects and tell us about the car.
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I think I might have for my convertible. This was bought as a parts car, has a frozen motor, but it's too good, and too original to part out. Likely wont keep it.
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Ahh
Good luck.
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I had a pair of 428 CJ heads once, came in a collection of FE stuff I bought, that one of the heads had a broken corner by the inner head bolt hole, you're not the first to try and take one off without all the headbolts off. You caught it in time. Good luck.
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When I worked the parts counter, I had a guy come in and buy a starter for a Pinto. Guy that looked like a wrestler, giant - drives a Pinto. He changed it in the parking lot. People did that all the time. Somebody looks out the door and says "What the hell..." - that Pinto was rocking like an earthquake. Guy brings old starter in with a piece of the block and the 3rd ear cracked, bolt still there. He only took out two bolts, didn't see the other. I gave him his core charge back, no question. Boss says "We can't take that core, it's broken." I said "I'll give you $10 if you go tell him he doesn't get his $10 core refund." Customer drove away happy, register cashed out $10 short that day. :)
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And they say size doesn't matter...phht :P
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Now that's funny!