Head Removal

[SilverFox]

How do you get the damned head bolts loose ive tried a 3/8th wrench that i freaking broke using a breaker bar on it, an impact gun. But still no progress on the first bolt

[wildBill83]

Do you have a FSM? I hope you are removing them the recommended way or you risk warping stressed parts.

[Jarrett]

Your first problem was using a 3/8" ratchet. Use a 1/2" breaker bar. Is the engine on a stand or in the car?

[wildBill83]

Like Jarrett said I use a 1/2" breaker bar with a 12pt socket and apply torque until it breaks free, then I do the same to the rest of the bolts in the specified order. I then loosen them in steps.

Use 1/2" torque wrench to install new bolts. Do not re-use old head bolts as they are now too stretched to re-use safely.

[dj_ender]

Like Jarrett said I use a 1/2" breaker bar with a 12pt socket and apply torque until it breaks free, then I do the same to the rest of the bolts in the specified order. I then loosen them in steps.

Use 1/2" torque wrench to install new bolts. Do not re-use old head bolts as they are now too stretched to re-use safely.

Why would you use a 12 point socket? The head bolts are 6 point.

[wildBill83]

Hmm, must be thinking H22, they are 12pt on H22... My bad...

[dj_ender]

I just don't want the guy rounding off his head bolts, I've rounded many bolts/nuts with a 12 point socket.

[wildBill83]

Yeah, good point. OP ignore my 12pt gibberish, unless you are tearing down a H22.

Hopefully he gets ARP headstuds.

[Stoner51]

I've gotten them off with my 3/8 drive and a cheater bar. Breaker bar is prob better as the last time I did I think I felt my ratchet give some. It's a snap on I've had since I was 15 it was the first tool I ever bought. $15

Steve

[EsperHamid]

isn't it the point here to use a 6 point drive instead of 12 point ?! and NOT if it was a 1/2" or 3/8" ?! I've tried to remove one of them bolts on my old F22a4, it nearly broke my back and wasn't able to get it loose ... engine was outside of the car .... I guess when outside you need 2 people, one to hold the engine in place and the other to use the torque wrench.

[wildBill83]

On an H22 you have to use 12pt sockets, the bolts are 12pt bolts. On F22 use 6pt. Also never use a torque wrench to remove bolts, that's a fast way to ruin one.

[oyajicool]

He's using impact gun.
Hope he has impact sockets for the gun, not regular sockets.
Not cheap (Chi*a) ones either. They are bound to break no matter what.

[wed3k]

ive seen breaker bars work more efficiently than an ingersoll rand.

[CyborgGT]

My H's bolts are 6pt . Regardless, he'll see what he needs once the valve cover is off.

Before I got rid of my F22, I thought it would be fun to tear it down and see what it looks like inside. I gave up after I was only able to get one head bolt broken loose. I even took heat to the bolts (which is NOT recommended for something that has to go back together), plus the breaker bar, plus soaking them in both WD-40 and PB Blaster.

[Mishakol129]

Torque wrench is a bad idea, the manual says to loosen the bolts at 1/3 at a time, it prevents warping of the head.