Well, the heads are off and parts fly everywhere..

[ShiftTheDrift]

Before I begin, Please try and keep the laughter to a minimum. I was changing plugs last weekend and on #8, the hole was cross-threaded. I was told to remove the heads and get them repaired. That's being done so now.

The instructions I got were to take LOT's of pictures and that it's labor intensive and to simply remove anything that get's in the way. I've personally never done anything like this before and I'm hesitating putting it all back together for a couple of reasons.

#1, I did not remove and note the placement of push rods before I pulled the heads. Therefore, shortly after removing the first head, the push rods fell out all over the ground.

#2, I did not note the placement of roller-rockers and their bolts.

It wasn't until yesterday I learned that you remove the push rods and rockers BEFORE removing the heads.

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Project Photos: I tried to be as organized as possible..
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
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There are also "General Questions" that I'm not clear on.. Such as..

1) Cold there be any aluminum that fell into the cylinder from the cross threaded plug? If so, do I need to tear down the entire engine?

2) There was water in the cylinders.. Will this hurt anything?
I cleaned it up as best I could.

3) Do I clean the cylinder walls and pistons?

4) The engine has been sitting a few days now.. Do I pre-lube anything?

I examined the oil carefully and did not see any metal flakes.

I really don't know what to do now. This is unfamiliar territory for me and I'm fairly certain that this engine won't run again, correctly anyway. Can anybody set me on the right path?

 

[wytstang]

1) possible but no you don't have to tear down the engine chancs are the oil filter will catch it.
2) No h2o will not hurt it just try to get as much as you can out.
3) You can if they are really full of carbon build up but it they are clean just spray some carb cleaner on a rag and wipe down.
4) No not really but if you want to just pour some oil on the cam to make you feel better.

Also it doesn't matter if the push rods get mixed up they are all the same lentgh. The same goes for the RR no worrys.
If you want browse through this article to help you out http://users3.ev1.net/~voodoostang/headsswap.htm

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

That certainly creates piece of mind. I ended up using a little common since before I got started. I bought some zip lock bags with the labels (blue and yellow make a green seal) to catalog parts. Then for all the larger parts such as the upper and lower intake, we got sealed UHaul boxes.

I think I remember reading somewhere that I should pre-lube the push rods?

 

[wytstang]

You can soak you lifters in oil until your ready to but everything back and yes I've pumped a shot of oil into the push rods before but it's not going to hurt you if you don't.

 

[wytstang]

Oh and labling EVERYTHING you removed is always a really smart thing.

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

Oh yeah, I did find something that disturbed me..

It looks like the valve train wasn't tightened properly in a few areas or the valve covers aren't tall enough..

 

[wytstang]

Looks like your RR is hitting your VC. Sand or gring it down just a bit not to much you don't want to weaken it be removing material.

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

Hey wytstang, thanks a lot for setting my mind at ease! Those questions mentioned earlier have actually been causing loss of sleep for a couple days.

:sigh:

 

[wytstang]

Not a problem I learned a lot when I completly rebuilt my first car motor bare block for fully complte*1972 Plymouth Duster with a 340* talk about super freakin easy.

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

I pretty much have a good idea about putting antiseeze on the accessory bolts. If I'm not mistaking, it's thread sealer (Permatex Form-A-Gasket) on the upper head bolts and Teflon on the lower head bolts. Also, tighten header bolts after a couple days of operation. Did I leave anything out?

 

[wytstang]

Nope good to go

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

Can I use carb cleaner on the roller rockers to clean them?

 

[wytstang]

Yes carb cleaner (arisol) evaperates almost instantly so no harm, you can also use 100% minerspirits.

 

[final5-0]

Before you fire it up change the oil & filter.

When draining the oil pull both drain plugs.

Later
Grady

 

[MysteryMachine]

teh reason they tell you to mark the push rods and lifters is do to wear patterns if theres one that wears different it will ware everything differnt so then if you put it in a different spot it will wear another place wearing your cam in a bunch of different places isn't good. My sugestion would be while your at it just replace your push rods and lifters. No fun putting everything back together then having to rip it apart again if one goes bad right away better to have new stuff

 

[mo_dingo]

teh reason they tell you to mark the push rods and lifters is do to wear patterns if theres one that wears different it will ware everything differnt so then if you put it in a different spot it will wear another place wearing your cam in a bunch of different places isn't good. My sugestion would be while your at it just replace your push rods and lifters. No fun putting everything back together then having to rip it apart again if one goes bad right away better to have new stuff

Ditto. It may not be a problem, but do you want to find out the hard way when you snap your cam in half????? Just a thought.
Scott