96 850 T, pulling head for valve job, prepare:

futureboycolin · Post by **futureboycolin** » 17 Oct 2013, 21:48

Should clarify...not gonna swap heads. I didn't find anything at the wrecker. It was all junk. Ha.

I'm going to inspect the valves and just replace the burned valve, or valves on cylinder #1.

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Oct 2013, 22:59

All of that verbiage on the first two pages of the thread was about how to pull the cover without cam locking tools. The cam tools hold the cams into the cam cover when you pull it. Up to you but we were saying you don't need cam lock tools. Although, JimBee was suggesting to go ahead and use the wire to lock them on the front side. Not a bad idea and that's easy to do, but as you know we also discussed ways to do it without wiring.

850TurboTurtle · Post by **850TurboTurtle** » 17 Oct 2013, 23:11

futureboycolin wrote:Not trolling, I appreciate all your help. I'm just nervous about the job, don't have the financial means to go buying cam locking tools, y'know.
Just trying to pin down the easiest way to do this job.

I just did this job myself as a first timer. (Head gasket replacement for mine.) Was very nervous. Tracy's tutorial mentioned early in this thread is priceless. For the turbo bits you can also read
http://atthetipwebs.com/technologyinstr ... gasket.htm
which has good photos as well. It took me a lot longer than the estimates, mostly because I had to stop and figure out what some of the terms meant. But bottom line is it all worked and it runs great now. Vrooom!

I have more than half a tube of anaerobic sealer and a can of the activator spray for reassembling the cam cover on the top of the head. I'd be happy to mail it to you cheap. I also have a homemade cam holder (block of wood and metal tabs and predrilled bolt holes) I can throw in. I don't need them any more.

Happy to answer any questions since I just did all this.

Finally, here's what I wish I had done differently...
1. put groups of bolts in ziplock sandwich baggies and label with a sharpie. Religiously!
2. number the various vac hoses and electric connectors, noting where they attach, and make notes on a pad detailing every pairing. Where it came from, where it goes. Would have saved me 3+ hours of searching on reassembly.
3. Use more latex gloves. Buy a box of 100 and be generous with yourself.
4. Take photos of every step of disassembly, because you'll want to see what angle that turbo hose sits at when you go to put it back, etc.

And 5 - no regrets here - I'm going to do a lot of Christmas shopping at Tracey's Soaps!

futureboycolin · Post by **futureboycolin** » 21 Oct 2013, 08:33

850TurboTurtle, I appreciate it. If I have any questions I will definitely ask.

Well today's the day guys. Driving about 3 hours out to Angola, keeping it conservative. Yesterday I changed the oil and put in a bottle of Lucas in the gas tank. Changed the oil filter and the fuel filter as well.

I'll let you know how it goes once I finish the work and take the head in. I'll post some pics of the valves and everything!

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Oct 2013, 09:03

You definitely want to unplug the #1 injector before you leave for Angola.

Post by **rspi** » 21 Oct 2013, 10:24

erikv11 wrote:
rspi wrote:...As with most time consuming jobs, there is very little danger or chances of getting things wrong.
Don't mean to be rude but, what are you talking about? I agree this job is straightforward if you have some experience and read up, and OP surely seems up to it, but there are all kinds of chances to mess up a head swap.

He'll be fine and should take his time, but don't be misleading!

I have not read of many head swap file ups. I think most of the jobs that have tutorials have enough information to make them clear enough to get through without issues. If people read, pay attention, and take their time, they will have success 90% of the time. The trouble comes in when they wonder away from the instructions and start tearing things down that don't need to be messed with.

My guess is that 80% of the people that read these threads and do the job never even post. They fix their cars and move on. No need to chit chat with us. That's just my opinion. I did NOT find it necessary to pull the exhaust manifold or turbo in doing the head. Pulling them will likely result in more work and a bigger chance of something going wrong.

Pull it apart and set parts in some kind of order where the parts won't be disturbed. Then get the head fixed and put it back together sooner than later and you should get it back together well. If you leave it apart for 60 days, I'm sure you will forget how to get it back together. I pulled the head on a Tuesday and put it back together on a Friday. This really is not a 14 day job. The longer something sits apart the harder is will be put back together.

As outlined in my tutorial, I lined the trunk with card board. As I took parts out, I set them in the trunk. When it was time to put things back together, I opened the trunk and took the parts out in order and installed them. No major guess work.

How do you eat an elephant, one bite at a time. The same goes for doing a head job. If you do one step at a time, things will likely go your way.

futureboycolin · Post by **futureboycolin** » 21 Oct 2013, 10:44

Very true Robert.

At the hand wash center now steaming the engine bay. Gonna be nice to work in it nice and clean.

I'm planning to open as much space as possible, but also leave as many parts installed as possible. I'm also going to be organizing bolts in baggies like 850TurboTurtle suggested and tape the baggies to the parts removed.

Unfortunately I'm gonna have to wait til next week to put everything back together. Maybe I can find an R exhaust in the meantime!

futureboycolin · Post by **futureboycolin** » 21 Oct 2013, 11:41

It's running much rougher w/ the #1 injector unplugged...

futureboycolin · Post by **futureboycolin** » 22 Oct 2013, 10:00

When I pull the camshafts out, do they need to be immersed in oil to stave off rust? They'll be sitting for about a week before I put everything back together.

Pics of the head coming later today.

Post by **rspi** » 22 Oct 2013, 16:12

No, that much rust won't build up unless you lay them on the ground or somewhere. Do soak the lifters.