How to Easily Remove a Cylinder Head on an Auto With Frozen Bolts
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You don't have to take the bolts holding the exhaust manifold(s)to the cylinder head; nor the bolts attaching the cross-over pipe to the exhaust pipe.
Steps
- Know that the nuts going to the stud bolts in both areas are usually frozen and rusted and cannot be removed. Given that, a very simple tip, that works is to use a hacksaw to cut the cross-over pipe in one place only.
- Note that the cross-over pipe looks like a "Y" shaped tube. Be certain to cut the correct arm, ie: the one going to the cylinder head you are removing. Exception: if you're removing both cylinders, you'll have to cut both of them.
- Remove the valve cover gasket, and the cylinder head.
- Easily lift both the cylinder head along with the exhaust manifold (without having to remove the exhaust manifold from the cylinder head) AND the portion of the cross-over pipe all in one piece without any more cutting.
- Learn that once "done" with replacing the cylinder head gasket and cleaning, you can then put it back on.
- Position the new head gasket, and replace the cylinder head "unit", without ever having to remove the exhaust manifold or those frozen bolts between the cross-over pipe and exhaust pipe.
- Since the exhaust pipe is usually "hung", you'll have enough "play" to insert the 2" x 2" connector piece without having to do it before you tighten down the cylinder head.
- Remember that once the cylinder head is tightened down, you're safe to insert the appropriate exhaust fitting (usually a 2" x 2" O.D. connector), and clamp it down.
- Finally know that you are done without ever having to remove any of the frozen bolts and nuts either at the exhaust manifold or those holding the cross-over pipe to the exhaust pipe.
- Note: if you don't have a cross-over pipe, which is only used in V-6 or V-8 engines; ie: you have a "straight 4-cylinder", just cut the one pipe going back to the exhaust pipe.
Tips
- Make the cut(s) in places easy to reach when inserting the exhaust connector. It makes it much easier to insert this piece and to use tighten down the 2 U-clamps you'll be using to make it a tight fit.
- Cost for 2 clamps and the exhaust connector is usually a total of $5 or less.
- If you don't have enough "play" to get the connector in, just cut a short piece (about 1 inch)from the end of the pipe; reinsert using the play you have, and then tighten the U-bolts down.
- Since this pipe is almost always 2" x 2", and both ends (where you cut) will be identical, not only is very easy to do, but the connector is easy to find, and a very common size. Use a ruler or Vernier calipers if necessary to confirm the size of the pipe, if necessary.
Warnings
- Don't make the cut(s) too close to either of the normal places they connect. Do it in the middle. Then you won't have a problem getting the U-clamps on the pipe at all.
Things You'll Need
- hacksaw, 1/2 inch wrench (open end or preferably a box end)just to tighten the nut on the clamps, two U-clamps, one exhaust connector.
Sources and Citations
- This has been done twice, and it works perfectly. It makes things very easy, and the connection is tight as the original pipe.
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