Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

Well, Im pulling the heads off tonight or tomorrow. Time for new head gaskets and some ARP studs. My question is basically can this be done in the car? Who has done it, and what problems have you ran into? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Also, where can I find the studs at right now? Arent they on back order? I also pla on freshening up the heads a bit and installing new springs/retainers. Anything else I should look for? Im sure there will be some more posts on here as the days go by. This will be a learning experience for me, as I had my heads/cam done professionally the first tme.TIA guys. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

NoGo

iTrader: (2)

Yes, you can install the heads with the ARP studs in. I was told by a couple sponsers that you couldn't (don't know why they said this), but you can. My car is a 2000 WS6, and I had no clearence problems at all. The heads went right in with about an inch to spare on the top.

A little tip. Clean the **** out of your block threads before putting in the studs. If yours is anything like mine there will be all kinds of lock-tite in there. A pipe cleaner and some solvent (aluminuminum friendly <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> ) ought to speed the job up a little.

*IMPORTANT*
If this is your first head job here is another tip. After you get the heads off, you will have to clean the block and the heads from all of the gasket material. Do this with an ice scraper and a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is key. Otherwise you get gasket crap all over the place. I am still pulling gasket **** out of my cooling system from the first H/C that I did 2 months ago. Just scrape with the vacuum cleaner in front of the scraper. It will suck up all of the crap before it can fall into your cooling jackets and stuff.

Good luck. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

<small>[ June 17, 2002, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: NoGo ]</small>

Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

Thats the kind of news I wanted to hear. I just spoke with a few shops and they all told me it wasnt possible. figured someone on here had done it before. How had was it? Any trouble bolts?? I do have accss to a lift so dropping the engine if needed just became a possibility. Thanx again, BTW this is my first time pulling the heads on an LS1.

One more thing, Anyone know the aveage life of the timing chain on our cars? I have 36k on the clock. Thinking about replacing it also.

NoGo

iTrader: (2)

While your in there, you might as well replace the timing chain. Cheap $100 insurance if you ask me. Its easy to do to.

Just make sure that you take note or mark the crank and cam sprokets so that you can put everything back together *exactly* how it came off.

Getting my head studs in was kind of a pain. No matter how much I cleaned my block I couldn't hand thread all of them in. The thread tolerances are much tighter, so just a teeny-tiny bit of lock-tite left in the hole will stop you from hand threading them in. About half of them I had to double nut them ( <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> ) and put them in. I was very careful not to torque them against the bottom.

I have no idea why some shops say that it can't be done with the engine in the car. I was pretty leary when I put my heads on with the studs in, and figured it would be pretty tight. It wasn't even close though. I had all kinds of clearance. There was no wiggling, banging or anything.

Good Luck <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

Cammin, I pulled my passenger side head off with the studs in and had ZERO problems. Plenty of room left. I figure the passenger side is tighter than the drivers. If you had a lift, you could have that sucker on the ground in 2-3 hours and the heads are EASY to do then. I pulled my motor/tranny at 2bseens place...checked head gaskets..reinstalled heads...reinstalled motor/tranny and was driving that night with my a/c. This was with poor mans tools too. What gaskets you going with. For your application I would go with the GM MLS gaskets or the cometic gaskets. Katech should have the studs in stock NOW

Damian

iTrader: (89)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have 36k on the clock. Thinking about replacing it also. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Kevin's car broke the stock chain with 40ish on the clock, bent 8 valves and tore all the seats to peices...

Josh

Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

Jerry, I have access o a lift from any Saturday evening till Monday morning. I was going to see what I could offer you to come give me a hand. I am pulling my heads off today while the motor is still in the car and getting them worked a bit and having new springs installed. Then Ill order the studs and Cometic nitrous gaskets along with a new timing chain. My thought process is to trailer the car over to the lift...drop the motor..... and install heads/timing chain while engine is down and then put her all back together. Ill have some beer on tap and a stripper, you interested. Josh shoul be there also offering his wonderful LS1 experience. That is, if he will drive his *** over this way.

BTW Josh,thanx for the tip. Now my next question is, what timing chain to get and do I need aftermarket gears as well??

cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

Ron, I would be glad to help. It only took 2 hours to have mine sitting on the ground and yours should be around the same if your y-pipe is not welded on the intermediate pipe. Figure 4 hours max to have your heads sitting in the trunk. it will take another 30 minutes to put the subframe back in so you can roll the car around off of the lift. We will need to lower the oil pan to get the timing chain off but thats no biggie. Let me know when so I can plan on it.

Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

Jery, thanx bro. Ill e pulling the heads today around 4pm. Gonna drop em off at a local shop for a "stage III" porting...lol... They shold be ready in about 2 weeks if all goes well. Ill give you a call this aftenoon once I get em off and shoot the **** with ya a bit. I just got home from work and Im headed to bed.