Removing cylinder head

[Flagstaff]

Be a while getting back to working on my 63' Sprite with time taken up building it a new garage.

I am trying to replace the head gasket. According to all the manuals I have everything is loose and the head with carbs attached move like it it loose except I cannot lift it out. Probably to weak . Have any of you tried removing heads/carbs with some kind of a lift mechanism?

Any input appreciated.

 

[bigjones]

I like to use hardwood wedges. Lift one side, slide in a wedge, lift the other, slide in a wedge. Repeat until you can lift it out.

Is the exhaust manifold still attached to the head or to the intake manifold?

Good Luck!

 

[leecreek]

Did you get the little hose from the water pump to the head off?

 

[regularman]

Check that the little hose is loose water pump to head. You might try 2 people. I think the head weighs in the neighborhood of 40lbs so bending over its a lot. @ people should be able to do it no problem though.

 

[Greg_C]

Lift mechanism's:
Engin hoist
Overhead block and tackle

The wood wedges and 2 people ides will
probally serve you best.

Funny,
I also am building up my garage ( an old broken down 1 car
wreck) to winter a tired MGB, and trying to find the time
to pull a head off a Midget thats wintering in the rear of
my glass business shop.
Bet you get your stuff done before I do.
Keep us posted on all your progress. I'm going to
post some pictures as soon as I figere out how to resize them.

Greg

Hey, just noticed, we're both new guys, your in Arizona
and I'm close to winter snow.
Now I KNOW your be done first.

 

[Flagstaff]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am pretty sure I got the little hose ( was not easy). I will try the hard wood wedges if that is a no go will go with a hoist of some kind.

Greg obviously you think of Arizona as Phoenix. I live in Flagstaff just south of Grand Canyon. The town is 7000' with mountains above us at 12,000'. We have snow in the mountains but none in town although the days have been 40 degrees and the nights 20 degrees. Thats why I worked hard during the summer to get the garage built for Baby.

Curt

 

[Greg_C]

Curt,
Yea, I thought all Arizona was 12 months of summer.I need to get out more.
We really are in the same boat.
Worked the last 2 days and here's where I'm at.
Remember,this old shack is just big enough for only one LBC.

 

[DrEntropy]

Use Weasel Pee as a penetrant down the head stud holes for a day or two, rubber mallet or dead-blow for thumping the studs to work the stuff down the sides. Since the rocker shaft is off, you can fill #1 & #4 plug holes with rope then turn the crank to compress it and pressure the head up.

Weasel Pee is a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone. Shake well before application. Do a forum search for more info.

 

[bigjones]

Forgot to mention:

To break the seal of the head gasket on the 1500, I took a 3' crow bar and laid it on the flange of the timing chest cover and levered against the head to lift it up a tad. At the back, I put in a short 4x4' in the engine compartment and placed the crow bar on that and levered up. Once you can actually get it to move, then it's time for the wedges. Just lift one end as high as you can while at the same time shoving in a hardwood wedge, ha! On the TR3 I actually had to hammer in the wedges a little bit at each end. That was a pig to get off - made the Midget effort a piece of cake, though.

I believe what makes it difficult, apart from the fact that it is pretty heavy and you are bending over, is that the dang thing has to come out pretty much vertically, to clear the 10 studs, ie not much wiggling.

Good luck

(still waiting on head gasket)

 

[Flagstaff]

Want to thank all who replied. Looks like bigjones nailed it for me. The header was still attached.

to Greg: The garage I built was actually and add on to an existing garage. It like yours will only handle one LBC with a little room up front for some equipment like an air compressor, cleaning and sand blast unit.

Thanks to all once again

Flagstaff