Chevrolet 12533558 Cylinder Head Assembly (W/Studs)

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To remove the cylinder head, begin by disconnecting the negative battery cable and draining the cooling system. Remove the drive belt, upper fan shroud, fan/clutch assembly, and water pump pulley. Next, detach the upper radiator hose and heater hose from the thermostat housing, disconnect the coolant temperature sensor's electrical connector, and remove the thermostat housing. Remove the air cleaner assembly, and on models through 1998, take off the upper and lower intake manifold, while on 1999 and later models, the intake manifold is one-piece. Remove the dipstick tube, alternator, bracket, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, and their shared bracket. Then, remove the exhaust manifold and the valve cover, rocker arms, and pushrods. Unbolt and remove the engine lifting bracket from the rear of the cylinder head. For the cylinder head removal, outline the cylinders and bolt pattern on cardboard and mark the front of the engine. Loosen the head mounting bolts in 1/4-turn increments and store them in the cardboard holder. Lift the head off the engine carefully, and if stuck, only pry it at the overhang on the thermostat end. Place the head on a block of wood. For installation, transfer all external parts from the old cylinder head to the new one if applicable. Ensure clean mating surfaces between the cylinder head and block, and have the head checked for distortion and cracks by an automotive machine shop. Clean the mating surfaces thoroughly, chase the threads in the head bolt holes, and use sealing compound on the threads of all cylinder head bolts. Position the new gasket over the dowel pins in the block, then place the head on the block without disturbing the gasket. Tighten the bolts, and complete the remaining installation steps in reverse order. Finish by changing the oil and filter, adding coolant, running the engine, and checking for leaks.

Thoroughly clean the cylinder heads and related valve train components, removing old gasket material and sealing compound from the head gasket, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold sealing surfaces.

To remove the cylinder heads, ensure the engine is completely cool and drain the cooling system. Begin by removing the intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, valve covers, and pushrods. For the right cylinder head, on models through 1998, take out the air conditioning compressor, compressor mounting bracket, and the belt tensioner. Disconnect the knock sensor electrical connector. On 1999 and later models, remove the alternator mounting bracket. Remove the dipstick and move the dipstick tube. For the left cylinder head, remove the engine ground wire, electrical harness at the rear of the cylinder head, and disconnect the knock sensor and coolant temperature sensor connectors. On models through 1998, remove the alternator. Unbolt and move aside the accessory bracket retaining the power steering pump without disconnecting the power steering hoses. For both cylinder heads, using a new cylinder head gasket, outline the cylinders and bolt pattern on cardboard. Loosen the cylinder head bolts in 1/4-turn increments and lift the cylinder heads off. Clean the mating surfaces meticulously and check for damage. Chase the threads in the cylinder head bolt holes and coat the threads with a non-hardening sealant. Position new gaskets over dowel pins, place the cylinder heads, and install bolts in their original locations, tightening in several steps. Complete the remaining installation steps in reverse, change the engine oil and filter, and check for leaks when starting the engine.

After installing all valves in both heads, check the valve stem O-ring seals for leaks using a vacuum pump and a special adapter.

Carefully position the heads on the block without disturbing the gaskets.

New and rebuilt cylinder heads are commonly available for most engines at dealerships and auto parts stores. Some specialized tools are necessary for the disassembly and inspection procedures, and replacement parts may not be readily available, making it more practical and economical for the home mechanic to purchase replacement heads rather than disassemble, inspect and recondition the originals. On 7.4 liter (454 cubic inch) engines, two head designs are generally available -"open chamber" and "closed chamber." These heads will interchange as far as bolt patterns, accessory mounting, etc. is concerned, but the different combustion chamber designs require different piston dome shapes. If you're purchasing a set of reconditioned cylinder heads, make sure the new heads match the combustion chamber design of the originals. Cylinder head disassembly involves removal of the intake and exhaust valves and related components. If they're still in place, remove the rocker arm nuts, pivot balls and rocker arms from the cylinder head studs. Label the parts or store them separately so they can be reinstalled in their original locations. Before the valves are removed, arrange to label and store them, along with their related components, so they can be kept separate and reinstalled in the same valve guides they are removed from. Compress the springs on the first valve with a spring compressor and remove the keepers. Carefully release the valve spring compressor and remove the retainer or (if used) rotator, the shield, the springs and the spring seat or shims (if used). Remove the oil seal(s) from the valve stem and the umbrella-type seal from the guide (if used), then pull the valve out of the head. If the valve binds in the guide (won't pull through), push it back into the head and deburr the area around the keeper groove with a fine file or whetstone. Repeat the procedure for the remaining valves. Remember to keep all the parts for each valve together so they can be reinstalled in the same locations. Once the valves and related components have been removed and stored in an organized manner, the head should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected. If a complete engine overhaul is being done, finish the engine disassembly procedures before beginning the cylinder head cleaning and inspection process.

Measure the installed valve spring height using a ruler or dial caliper, ensuring it matches the specified height.

Loosen the head bolts in 1/4-turn increments until they can be removed by hand, working in a reverse pattern of the tightening sequence. Store the bolts in the cardboard holder to retain their original positions.

Thoroughly clean the cylinder heads and related valve train components, removing old gasket material and sealing compound from the head gasket, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold sealing surfaces.