crossa

crossa

New Member
I'm in the process of changing the head gaskets on my newly acquired P38 4.6. I am stuck trying to move the left hand head off the block there is a small gap appeared on the valley side but it does not want to lift off.

Now the daft question do I need to remove the rocker shaft before pulling the head off.
 
it makes it easier as you won't drop pushrods everywhere
 
Ok that makes sense.
Any idea's on what I can use to get the head and block to part company.
 
crossa said:
Also do i need to do anything with the tappets or am I ok to leave them untouched.
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And don't be a bell end like I was and buy cheap stuff off ebay.
Cam and lifters, if they're Britpart, leave alone!!!

As for releasing the head, I'm sure you should have that cleared by now lol, if not, gentle tapping usually breaks the surfaces apart.
 
crossa said:
I'm in the process of changing the head gaskets on my newly acquired P38 4.6. I am stuck trying to move the left hand head off the block there is a small gap appeared on the valley side but it does not want to lift off.

Now the daft question do I need to remove the rocker shaft before pulling the head off.
Click to expand...

Making sure all the bolts are out is a good idea. Then a tap here and there with hyde mallet usually has the desired effect.
 
Ok thanks for the info once the head is off and I can assess the damage and I will be able to decide what way to go, if it is just the head gasket I will replace the cam shaft, lifters and the timing chain

I will keep the forum up todate and take some pictures ready to post, but I may not be able to finsih the job until the weekend.
 
Just a passing thought - don't know if it's the same on the 4.6 but I had similar trouble with mine, I'd undone the nut that holds the (I think) alternator bracket onto the frontmost head bolt thinking it was a stud, but it was actually a bolt with a threaded 'peg' on the top. Eventually removed the bracket after struggling to get the head off and the true nature of the bolt became apparent.

A
 
odyssey said:
Just a passing thought - don't know if it's the same on the 4.6 but I had similar trouble with mine, I'd undone the nut that holds the (I think) alternator bracket onto the frontmost head bolt thinking it was a stud, but it was actually a bolt with a threaded 'peg' on the top. Eventually removed the bracket after struggling to get the head off and the true nature of the bolt became apparent.

A
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I have removed that bracket, but did not notice a bolt like you describe I better have another look just in case, but I suspect it is just a matter of gentle persuasion
 
Still can't get the head to lift off, it is loose and sort off wobles by a couple of mm, do I need to remove the bolt I have circled in the picture, Theer are 2 of these and if so what size hex key are they?
 

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No they dont hold anything,i think they just blank off oil/water ways in the head, it may just be stuck on the dowel pins.
 
Ok thanks for the info, I think I will squirt a load of WD40 in the gap between the block and the head see if that helps free it up.
 
crossa said:
Still can't get the head to lift off, it is loose and sort off wobles by a couple of mm, do I need to remove the bolt I have circled in the picture, Theer are 2 of these and if so what size hex key are they?
Click to expand...

If all the head bolts are out it is stuck on the locating dowels get a bit forceful, wriggle it up and down with a bit of gusto it will come off eventually.
 
I finally got the head off; I'm not going to say that I had slackened a bolt off and forgot to remove it as I sound like a tit. So the head is now off.

I pulled the right hand side off without any effort, as it was the left side that had the problem I will get the both skimmed and use a composite gasket.

Attached some pics of both heads and block.
 

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crossa said:
I finally got the head off; I'm not going to say that I had slackened a bolt off and forgot to remove it as I sound like a tit. So the head is now off.

I pulled the right hand side off without any effort, as it was the left side that had the problem I will get the both skimmed and use a composite gasket.

Attached some pics of both heads and block.
Click to expand...

First principal of removing any item. Take out ALL retaining bolts.:):):):doh:
Is it burning oil pistons look a bit wet?
 
Got the heads tested and they are crack free, so they been skimmed the left side which had the sludge under the rocker cover need 6 thou taking off, the right side 2 thou. It cost £133 for the testing and skimming.

Do I now need to fit a composite gasket or would a normal one be ok. If I need to where would I get a composite from as quick search did not yield any.
 
All 4.6 ones are composite with streach head bolts. Only the older engines have tin gaskets and normal bolts. I recommend using wellseal on rover head gaskets.
 
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