Genuine 1987 Chevrolet El Camino Cylinder Head

1987 Chevrolet El Camino Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to properly clean and install a cylinder head and its components in V6 engine on 1987 Chevrolet El Camino?

  A: Thoroughly clean off the engine block surface, ensuring no foreign matter, dirt, or gasket pieces have fallen into the engine cylinder bores, bolt holes, or valve lifter area, and use an air hose to clean out the bolt holes if possible. Install a new head gasket with the bead side down toward the cylinder block, using the dowel pins in the block to locate and hold it in place while being careful not to kink or damage the gasket surface. Clean the gasket surface of the cylinder head and carefully set it in place on the engine block dowel pins. Apply a heavy body thread sealer on the head bolts since they pass through the engine coolant, and ensure the torque wrench is accurate to prevent uneven tightening that can distort the cylinder bores, leading to compression loss and excessive oil consumption. Install the head bolts and tighten them gradually about three times around in the specified sequence, followed by a final torque in the same sequence to meet torque specifications. Install the exhaust manifolds on the heads and tighten them to the required specifications. Wipe the rocker arm shaft and the bosses of the cylinder head with a clean, lint-free cloth to ensure cleanliness. Remove the pushrods from their numbered rack or cardboard and install them in their proper positions, locating each pushrod in its rocker arm seat by tilting the rocker arm toward the pushrod. Tighten the rocker arm shaft assembly bolts gradually and torque tighten to specifications. Install the spark plug wires on the rocker arm cover studs and connect the wires using pieces of tape as a guide, followed by the installation of the intake manifold. Reinstall all components removed during cylinder head removal and tighten all drive belts. Refill the engine with coolant, start the engine, and check for leaks, then recheck the cylinder head bolt torque after the engine has warmed up. Finally, install the rocker arm cover and new gasket, torque-tightening the rocker arm cover bolts to specifications.