Oldsmobile 10159551 Cylinder Head & Stud ASSEMBLY

Locate the engine block drain plugs at the center of the block on each side, remove the plugs, and drain the coolant. Remove the intake manifold and the exhaust manifolds. Take off the lower power steering pump adjusting bracket from the left-side cylinder head if it has not been previously removed, and also remove the lower alternator mounting bolt from the right-side cylinder head. Remove the rocker arm covers and loosen the rocker arm nuts enough to allow removal of the pushrods, storing them separately to ensure they can be reinstalled in their original positions, possibly using a cardboard box with numbered holes. Remove the head bolts in a sequence opposite to the tightening sequence and then remove the cylinder head(s), breaking the gasket seal by inserting a bar into one of the exhaust ports and carefully lifting. If a new cylinder head is being installed, transfer the external components from the old head to the new head. Before installing the head(s), ensure the gasket surfaces on both the head and engine block are clean and free of nicks and scratches, and that the threads in the block and on the head bolts are completely clean to avoid affecting the bolt torque. When installing the cylinder heads on engines using a plain steel gasket, coat both sides of the new gasket with a good quality sealer made expressly for head gasket installation, using a paint roller for an even coat of the proper thickness, as too much sealer may hold the gasket away from the head or block. Avoid using sealer on engines requiring a composite-type steel/asbestos gasket. Place the gasket in position over the dowel pins with the bead up, then position the cylinder head over the gasket. Coat the cylinder head bolt threads with an appropriate thread sealer and install the bolts, tightening them in the proper sequence to the specified torque, working up to the final torque in three steps. Install the pushrods, ensuring the lower ends are in the lifter seats, place the rocker arm ends over the pushrods, and loosely install the rocker arm nuts. The remaining installation steps are the reverse of removal, and before installing the rocker arm covers, adjust the valve lash.

Some specialized tools are necessary for the disassembly and inspection procedures, and replacement parts may not be readily available.

If they are in good condition, reassemble the valve train components in the cylinder head without major servicing.

Clean the gasket surfaces on the cylinder head and engine block thoroughly, avoiding damage.

Begin by scraping away all traces of old gasket material and sealing compound from the head gasket, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold sealing surfaces, and remove any built-up scale around the coolant passages.

The valve spring on the first valve should be compressed with a spring compressor to remove the keepers, followed by careful removal of the retainer, shield, springs, valve guide seal, spring seat, and valve from the head. If the valve binds in the guide, it may be necessary to push it back into the head and deburr the area around the keeper groove.