Blown Head gasket repair

[Chueybaca]

Ok guys I have a blown head gasket(well at least I think since coolant is in oil and vice versa). I would like to know if there is a step by step guide on how to get the heads off, maybe with pics to show the process? My dad is going to help me and he has lots of years experience but in foreign cars like toyota and nissan. He says by the looks of it, it's going to be a PITA to take the heads off because there is no room in the engine bay. I told him it was possible to take them off without dropping the engine and he said "well show me how and let's do it". I was wondering do any of you have pics and or tips? I have the haynes manual btw.:bowdown: It's a 2000 v6 camaro if that helps.

[whitdog54]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

I highly doubt you blew a head gasket. More then likely its lower intake manifold gasket.

[Fondle]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

whitdog- why do you say that? if coolant is in his oil, thats the number one sign of a blown head gasket

if there was no coolant in his oil, and he was loosing coolant, then it could be the intake manifold gasket

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

There are some tricks to getting the heads off. You should have 2 engine lift brackets, one passenger rear, one driver front. The passenger rear is the nightmare. I'd really recommend picking up a set of gear wrenches. Removing the lift brackets makes pulling the valve covers WAY easier. Also, if memory serves... you need a T-25 torx bit to pull the MAP sensor. Quick step by step, others can add to....

1. Disconnect the battery
2. Pull the air box and tubing to the engine
3. Drain radiator via petcock, lower passenger side
4. Remove MAP sensor (rear pass side, upper intake manifold)
5. Unbolt fuel rail, pull out, set to side, I usually do it without disconnecting from fuel lines
6. Unbolt upper intake, removed with throttlebody attached, this will save you from buying a throttle body gasket
7. Remove lower intake, there are a couple cross bolts in the actual manifold, there used to be pictures online.
8. Remove valve covers
9. Remove exhaust manifolds
10. Unbolt heads

[evilspot]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Chueybaca, I am in the middle of doing my heads (did not have a lot of oil/water mix, but had exhaust in the coolant). hopefully should be able to get the heads back this week and will start re-assembly this weekend. To answer your question, yes you can do it with out dropping the engine and yes it is PITA, particularly the stuff that is bolted to the backside for the heads (lift bracket on passenger side, and the bracket that holds the coils on the driver side, plus some other things I did not know about tell I tried to lift the head off). Of course once you get them off I would have a shop look at them to make sure they are both still good. Mine looked good and initial MagnaFlux looked ok, but after the shop cleaned them, one had two cracks on the front and back cylinders between the valves :cry:
but to Whitdog54 point, unless you did something to the car (I over heated mine :twak:) it might not be a head gasket. My mechanic verified where the problem was (was suppose to charge $35, but after he said it was a head gasket, he waved the fee.) It might be worth having some one verify that it is the head gaskets; because intakes are easy and kind of fun if you are into it. after that it becomes PITA.

[evilspot]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Quick update, I had to use a T-27 torx bit for my MAP sensor

[techsan23]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

You will need to remove the ignition coil module and unhook the throttle cables on the TB. A fuel disconnect tool will come in handy for the fuel lines. Go ahead and pick up the help! 90 degree plastic elbow and o-rings that go in the LIM. Once you get the intake manifolds off you can get at the lift bracket on the back of the pass side head.

[Chueybaca]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Ok thanks for the replies, so basically I take the brackets off to save me some trouble? Do I have to move the engine a little closer to the front?

[techsan23]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

The lifting bracket on the rear of the pass side head must be either removed or bent out of the way to access one of the bolts on the valve cover. Moving the whole engine would make it easier, but would be way too much trouble.

[Chueybaca]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

ok yeah I am removing the right side valve cover but am having trouble because of the bracket. I am going to try to bend it because I see no way of loosening it from the position I am at.

[Chueybaca]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Wow forget bending it, it's pretty tough. Is there a way of removing or loosening the bracket from the top?

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

You need to loosen it with an open ended wrench. Slide it between the bracket and the firewall, get the bolts out that way. Its a PITA, but its the only way to do it short of pulling the whole engine out.

[evilspot]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

found out that the wrench sockets come in real handy here. also, the top bolt is easier to get to after you remove the intakes (don't know if you have already done that). for the lower bolt you can get to it from the underside if you have a breaker bar, but yeah pretty much a PITA

[Chueybaca]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Man I had to give up for today because it started raining. All I have to say is that it's a nonstop PITA process lol. I'm a big guy and my arms are getting clawed up and legs are being stretched from trying to reach the bolts in the back. I give props to you guys for doing this job. :eek:

[Bandit127]

Re: Blown Head gasket repair

Or you can be 130 lbs of AWESOME like me! lol jk. I get crap for being the smallest guy at the shop, mostly with everyone talking about the burger king commercial lol.

But yea, these camaros are WAY harder to work on then people think. Because the engine is so far down and in, you have to bend more and it just sucks.