fixing or changing heads, any advice?
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From: Central Valley, CA
fixing or changing heads, any advice? I'm new to the LT1's and i've never done a head job before, if you've read in my earlier thread i had a spark plug issue which lead to me finding out that the owner before me cross threaded the spark plug hole in the head. I don't think I'd trust any shop around Fresno to fix it while the head is on(if that's even possible with the LT1's). My question is...should i just pull the heads off myself?(note: i've never done a head job, but I'm pretty confident of myself with the right instructions and guidance from this forum, i mean i need to learn sometime right? lol. are there any write ups?) should i take it to a shop and have them do everything? or possibly purchase a set of used heads from this forum and having either myself or a shop install it. I love working on cars and would love to learn but I'd like everyone's opinions before I make the decision. From what i know about these engines, i think it shouldn't be too hard to remove, but i'd like to know is what i should be looking out for and any precautions i need to make. I'm not a pro mechanic or anything but I'm not Car/Engine illiterate either.
Back in 2002 my father picked up a rod knock 96Z then ordered a remanufactured 355 for it, that f'in new LT1 had a stripped plug hole. He is a nut mechanic and retapped the threads while the motor was fully installed with the manifolds on so its 100% possible. If not its not bad at all to change the heads out just take your time and triple clean every thing.
The biggest thing is neatness and just make sure you get some bags and label the parts other then that the harness only goes in one place...the injectors are the only thing you may need to label. its eaAy and straight forward other then that
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From: Arkansas
I'm not trying to discourage you but I would really consider just pulling the engine out the bottom if your set on pulling the heads. It is really much much much easier to pull the whole engine out rather than pulling the heads. I would think the number 2,4 1 and 3 would be more chalenging. You could at least pull the engine out and put some new main,rod and cam bearings and even do a cam swap. you can get a engine kit for around 500
I'm not trying to discourage you but I would really consider just pulling the engine out the bottom if your set on pulling the heads. It is really much much much easier to pull the whole engine out rather than pulling the heads. I would think the number 2,4 1 and 3 would be more chalenging. You could at least pull the engine out and put some new main,rod and cam bearings and even do a cam swap. you can get a engine kit for around 500
I'm not trying to discourage you but I would really consider just pulling the engine out the bottom if your set on pulling the heads. It is really much much much easier to pull the whole engine out rather than pulling the heads. I would think the number 2,4 1 and 3 would be more chalenging. You could at least pull the engine out and put some new main,rod and cam bearings and even do a cam swap. you can get a engine kit for around 500
if the poor guy listened to you a stripped spark plug hole would turn into a damn full rebuild.
Lol
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Arkansas
I was thinking ahead of myself, sorry but how long does it take you guys to drop an engine? I was looking at the miles on his car 160k. My point was this, how much will it cost to replace the intake gaskets and head gaskets compared to pulling it out and doing a cheap rebuild?
How long does it take you guys to pull heads and how long to pull an engine?
How long does it take you guys to pull heads and how long to pull an engine?
