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Rear Head bolts

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piperflyer

New member
I'm attempting to remove the rear head, since I have valve spring that snapped, but I'm having trouble finding room to get to the final three heads bolts. They're located on the bottom of the head by exhaust manifold, and I need some suggestions on getting them off. I've got the engine cranked forward with a ratchet strap, but can't find the room to get in there to put a socket on it. Any suggestions or tricks anyone uses to get these suckers off?
 


you got a strut tower bar that you arent taking off? all ive ever used was a torque wrench, a regular socket, and a 1" extension and i never had a problem with getting it off.
 
I've only gotten one off. The bolt nearest the coolant elbow. I didn't even know about taking them off evenly. Thanks for the insight minichopp!

I don't have the exhaust manifold off yet (still got one more PIA bolt left on that), but it doesn't look like I'd be able to pull the manifold back very far once it's off. I just picked up a wobble socket, so I'll see if that works.
 


you need to crawl before you walk.

take off everything else, then get the head bolts out. All I used was a breaker bar, an extension, and a socket
 
Well I finally got the rear head off! I did have one ehaust bolt that didn't want to come off, and I ended up breaking it off, but no worries, I can have it replaced before I put it back on.

I've got a new issue now. Now that the rear head is off, I'm taking the front one off (to have it checked for cracks, might as well), and I've got the exhaust and all of the head bolts off but one. It's the bolt furthest to the left, next to where the lower coolant hose connects to the water pump. I can't get a socket on it, because of a protuding stud that comes out of the head. I can only fit a 9/16 wrench on it, but can't seem to get the leverage needed to break it loose. Any suggestions on getting that sucker off?
 


are u talking about the studs for the front manifold? You have to take them out too. I don't remember the size socket i used for the stud but, it was tiny
 
Yea, it's the stud on the front manifold that's in the way. I wasn't sure if it was removable. The end on it does look really small and is squared. Will a socket work on it?
 


come find me! i used vice grips to take that stud out of my spare engine. and i have used a double wrench millions of times! i was taught that trick by my father who has been a very successful mechanic for over 25 years. if u know what your doing there is nothing wrong with either of these techniques.
 
OMG you guys made this much harder than it needs to be.

To remove the lower head bolts on the rear head. Unbolt exhaust manifold from the head. Going under the back of the car, ratchet strap the exhaust to the bumper or a hole in the body. Pull it back 2-3 inches. Remove your bolts. For the studs that are in the head to hold the gasket and alighn the manifold, use a 5.5mm socket to remove them. This is the same size socket as the coil packs.

Vice grips are the Fred and Barney method. Using them says you need to buy more tools.
 
Hahaha u have no idea! I have more tools available to me than u can possibly imagine! i could have found that socket if i needed it but i didnt because vicegrips do the job just as well when used properly
 
speedemongtp said:
Hahaha u have no idea! I have more tools available to me than u can possibly imagine! i could have found that socket if i needed it but i didnt because vicegrips do the job just as well when used properly
Click to expand...

yeah, until u need to put the stud back in...
 
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