Genuine 1984 Chevrolet El Camino Cylinder Head

1984 Chevrolet El Camino Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How should one inspect and assess the condition of a cylinder head and its components in V8 engine on 1984 Chevrolet El Camino?

  A: Carefully inspect the head for cracks around and inside the exhaust ports, combustion chambers, or external cracks to the water chamber. Check the valve stem-to-bore clearance using a dial indicator by placing a valve in its installed position with the valve head slightly off its seat. Attach a dial indicator to the head, touching the valve stem where it exits the cylinder head, and move the valve from side to side, noting the movement on the dial indicator. If the valve stem clearance exceeds specifications, an oversize valve must be used after reaming the valve guide, which should be handled by a dealer or machine shop. Excessive clearance can lead to excessive oil consumption, while insufficient clearance may cause noisy operation and valve sticking. Inspect each valve spring and its damper, replacing any spring that is deformed, cracked, or broken. Check valve spring tension using GM tool J-8056 by compressing the springs to a specified height and measuring the required tension without the dampers; if not within 10 lbs of the specified load, replace the spring. Inspect rocker arm studs for wear or damage, noting that on certain heads, pushrod guides are retained by nuts on the rocker arm studs, which can be unscrewed for guide replacement. When assembling, coat the new stud with gasket sealant and torque tighten. For small engines, the studs are pressed in, and replacement involves reaming the stud holes slightly oversize, lubricating the new studs with hypoid axle oil, and pressing them in to their original depth. Check pushrods for warping by rolling each on a clean, flat piece of glass; any pushrod that is not perfectly straight or free from damage should be replaced. Assess the cylinder head for warpage by placing a straightedge across its length and measuring gaps between the straightedge and the head surface with a feeler gauge at three points across the head gasket surface and diagonally. If warpage exceeds 0.006 in at any point with a straightedge spanning the entire head, the cylinder head should be resurfaced, ensuring that warpage does not exceed 0.003 in with a 6-inch straightedge. Resurfacing is a task for a professional automotive machine shop, and note that resurfacing the cylinder head will slightly alter the intake manifold position, necessitating a proportionate resurfacing of the manifold.