Cadillac 12337563 F, Head, Reman

If you ever need to remove and install cylinder heads on various Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile engines, here are some general steps, To begin with, disconnect the battery and drain the coolant. Take off the air cleaner, then if there is one, take off the air conditioning compressor (but keep lines attached), and also remove the air hose at check valve. After that, get rid of turbocharger assembly or manifold as required. While removing the right head start by loosing an alternator belt and separate wiring to take out that component. As for left head, eliminate dipstick power steering pump as well as air pump. Label and disconnect plug wires plus exhaust manifold from head being removed. While doing so remove rocker arm cover/exhaust manifold/header pipe/rocker shaft assembly/pushrods keeping them in order .Do not allow any foreign material to enter critical areas while you carefully clean engine block gasket surface. Put a new head gasket in place holding it with dowels in block .Prior to installation carry out cleaning of cylinder head face where gasket goes do this by placing cylinder head on dowels in block then use thread sealer on all bolts. In accordance with Torque Specifications chart tighten bolts gradually following specified torque sequence until reaching final torque value. At last reassemble remaining components backwards way they were disassembled.Another thing to note is that when working on Chevrolet engines proper tightening of cylinder head bolts requires use of a torque wrench while for Oldsmobile diesel engines it is important to thoroughly clean mating surfaces and apply a new head gasket with specific torque values and sealing procedures followed.Very importantly check the cylinder head for warpage using a straight edge together with feeler gauges; if warpage exceeds specified limits then resurface it at an established machine shop.

If you ever need to remove and install cylinder heads on various Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile engines, here are some general steps, To begin with, disconnect the battery and drain the coolant. Take off the air cleaner, then if there is one, take off the air conditioning compressor (but keep lines attached), and also remove the air hose at check valve. After that, get rid of turbocharger assembly or manifold as required. While removing the right head start by loosing an alternator belt and separate wiring to take out that component. As for left head, eliminate dipstick power steering pump as well as air pump. Label and disconnect plug wires plus exhaust manifold from head being removed. While doing so remove rocker arm cover/exhaust manifold/header pipe/rocker shaft assembly/pushrods keeping them in order .Do not allow any foreign material to enter critical areas while you carefully clean engine block gasket surface. Put a new head gasket in place holding it with dowels in block .Prior to installation carry out cleaning of cylinder head face where gasket goes do this by placing cylinder head on dowels in block then use thread sealer on all bolts. In accordance with Torque Specifications chart tighten bolts gradually following specified torque sequence until reaching final torque value. At last reassemble remaining components backwards way they were disassembled.Another thing to note is that when working on Chevrolet engines proper tightening of cylinder head bolts requires use of a torque wrench while for Oldsmobile diesel engines it is important to thoroughly clean mating surfaces and apply a new head gasket with specific torque values and sealing procedures followed.Very importantly check the cylinder head for warpage using a straight edge together with feeler gauges; if warpage exceeds specified limits then resurface it at an established machine shop.

Clean all carbon from the combustion chambers and valve ports using GM tool J-8089 or a similar cleaning attachment available at auto parts stores, which connects to a common hand drill motor. Thoroughly clean the valve guides with GM tool J-8101 or other similar devices found at auto parts stores. Use parts cleaner to remove all sludge and dirt from the rocker arms, rocker balls, pushrods, and valve springs, working on one set of components at a time and returning each set to its numbered location on your box or rack. A buffing wheel should be employed to remove all carbon deposits from the valves, ensuring that the order of the valves is not mixed up during cleaning. Clean all carbon deposits from the head gasket mating surface carefully to avoid scratching this sealing surface, and thoroughly clean the threads on all cylinder head attaching bolts.

As a rule the heads for the GM engines are offered both new and remanufactured at the dealers and auto parts stores. Because heads cannot be easily removed and mechanically inspected, and it may be impossible to buy individual parts in general stores, it may further be advisable for the home mechanic to acquire new heads and fit them instead. However, the cylinder heads may be transported to a competent automotive machine workshop or a GM dealer for the overhaul exercise. If the complete engine is being overhauled simultaneously it is perhaps, wise to consider the following information. If one decides to replace the cylinder heads, there are things that should be understood in regard to the process, tools and spares to used. Start by using a valve spring compressor, obtainable from GM dealers or auto parts merchants, to reduce tension on each of the valve springs and take out the valve locking keys, one valve at a time. Remove the keys, and then let go the spring, followed by the withdrawal of spring cap, spring shield, spring and at last the spring damper where ever provided and put all these valve mechanism parts in a number box or stand having number box facility used in removing the cylinder head to assemble in sequence separately in a cylinder head assembly line. Thirdly, gentle manner remove the oil seals situated at the stems of each valve, when refitting ensure to fit new oil seals and take out every spring shims fitted at the underside of the valve spring. Last, take out each valve one by one and put them in the numbered box or rack so as to do away with the valve mechanism, and the components of the valve should not be mixed with other in such a way that may delay the work.

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, and move the valve from side to side, noting the movement on the dial. If the 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 high oil consumption, while insufficient clearance may cause noisy operation and valve sticking. Inspect each valve spring and its damper, replacing any that are 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 bolts or studs for wear or damage, and check push rods for warping by rolling each on a clean, flat piece of glass, replacing any that are not perfectly straight or free from damage. Check the cylinder head for warpage by placing a straightedge across its length and measuring gaps 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, resurfacing is necessary. Using a straightedge with a span of 6 inches, warpage should not exceed 0.003 in, and resurfacing should be performed by a professional automotive machine shop. Note that resurfacing the cylinder head will slightly alter the intake manifold position, requiring proportional resurfacing of the manifold.

If overhauling the cylinder heads is chosen, it is important to understand the steps involved, as well as the tools and replacement parts necessary for the job.

Identify the type of head gasket being used; steel head gaskets require a thin, even coat of sealer on both sides, while composition steel/asbestos gaskets should not use any sealer.

If warpage exceeds 0.006 in at any point with a straightedge spanning the entire head, resurfacing is necessary. Using a straightedge with a span of 6 inches should not exceed 0.003 in.

Insert a valve into the appropriate port and assemble the valve spring assembly for that cylinder, which includes the spring, damper, shield, and cap.

Disconnect the rubber hose at the injection tubing check valve due to the similarities between the 229 V6 and the V8 engines.

Install the exhaust manifolds and each valve lifter into its proper bore, using 'Molykote' or an equivalent as a coating.

Gain an understanding of the necessary steps, tools, and replacement parts involved.

If the engine has been removed from the car, disregard the following steps which do not apply.

An accurate torque wrench is essential to prevent uneven tightening that can distort the cylinder bores, leading to compression loss and excessive oil consumption.

Use a valve spring compressor to compress the assembly over the valve stem and hold it in position.

Tighten each bolt gradually in the specified sequence until the proper torque reading is achieved, then check to ensure all bolts have been tightened in the correct order.

Utilize parts cleaner to eliminate all sludge and dirt from these components.

Remove the lower mounting bolt for the alternator and set the alternator aside while removing the lower bracket.

Remove the oil seals from the stem of each valve, ensuring new seals are used upon reassembly, and take out any spring shims located at the bottom of the valve spring.

Resurfacing is a task for a professional automotive machine shop.

Clean the gasket surface of the cylinder head and carefully set it in place on the engine block dowel pins.

Use a valve spring compressor to compress the assembly over the valve stem and hold it in position.

Remove the rocker arm cover by taking off the attaching bolts and lifting the cover off the cylinder head. Use a hand or rubber mallet to break the gasket seal if necessary, without prying on the sealing surfaces.

Install the spark plug wires on the rocker arm cover studs and connect the wires using pieces of tape as a guide.

Thoroughly clean the valve guides with GM tool J-8101 or other comparable devices found at auto parts stores.

1. Remove the oil dipstick rod and tube. 2. If applicable, remove the power steering gear pump complete with mounting bracket and move it out of the way with the hoses attached.