head install how to?

[redlox]

is the a head install guide out there?i would like to get my new head put on this weekend. and it would go a lot easier if i had a guide rather then figuring it out as i go. let me know what you got thanks

[TheCrazyGuy]

It's been a while but I will give you the run down as far as I know. Before you start, ensure that you have a breaker bar (you'll need it) and that you know how to do your timing. It also wouldn't hurt to check the clearances between the cam lobes and the buckets, so a feeler gauge set is optimal. You'll also need a new head gasket, and razor blades or whatnot for the head. Finally, you'll need fluids (you'll need to replace your coolant and oil) and a torque wrench, as well as new head bolts.

Remove the head the good old fashioned way, one bolt at a time.
Header or exhaust manifold
Intake & intake manifold
TB
Fuel rail
Valve cover
Coil
Plug wires
Plugs
Cam gears
Cams

Ensure that you are bracing the cams in the proper place, not the opposite end of the cam when you are torquing them down. A certain former member warped his cams somehow that way.

The head is held onto the block with what I believe are Torx 55 bolts. You will need a breaker bar to break these loose. Start at opposite ends and work your way in, you don't want the uneven pressure to warp the head. If the fluids are all drained, it may save you time later when you invariably get gunk in the oil and coolant jackets.

The new head may need the bucket clearances checked. A fellow teamzx2 member with a lot of time on his hands did it for me so I can't really pass on the specific directions.

The new head will probably also need to be resurfaced. A minor amount of material will be shaved from it. If you want, you can get it milled. I didn't do that since I planned on FI. Ensure that the block is scrubbed free of gunk. You want a completely flat surface for the head and block to be mated to via the head gasket.

From that point, it's everything in reverse. Ensure your new head bolts are tightened down enough; I don't recall the specs but I'm sure it's out there. Despite following specs to the letter, I didn't do mine tight enough, and the engine ran crappy and i had to pull the cams and gears off and reset everything. Once everything is together, it should run perfectly, no break in time necessary.

More will come to me I'm sure, but if it makes you feel better, I just out of the blue decided to pull my head off because I suspected I had burnt valves (which I did) and I was able to do everything essentially by myself. It's not a difficult job, just time consuming.

[Pineapple]

From myzx2.com:

Step-by-step head swap checklist:

http://www.myzx2.com/howto/headswap/headswap_Checklist.pdf

How to check valve clearances:

http://myzx2.com/forums/thread/6693.aspx

[ravensguildassasin]

nice info. can we get this moved to knowledge base please.

[TheCrazyGuy]

From myzx2.com:

Step-by-step head swap checklist:

http://www.myzx2.com/howto/headswap/headswap_Checklist.pdf



Great guide, I'm sure it would have helped me with my swap. Only thing I don't like is on the valve cover diagram, where it shows the engine facing away from you, like you are assembling it from the roof of your car.

[redlox]

From myzx2.com:

Step-by-step head swap checklist:

http://www.myzx2.com/howto/headswap/headswap_Checklist.pdf

How to check valve clearances:

http://myzx2.com/forums/thread/6693.aspx

this is crazy really helpfull. i've been at it for only an hour and i almost have way thruogh.