Jake Johnson

I need to install new heads on my car and need some step by step help. Anyone got anything like that?

WhiteFoxGT

Well first step I would do is yank the motor out. Its SO much easier to do it with the motor out of the car. And it only takes about 3hrs to pull it. From there its pretty straight forward.

intake, valve covers, timing cover, motor mounts, timing chain, then heads

Xemeth

Why would you take the motor mounts off if you're swapping heads?

Also, it can be done in the car, and I don't personally think it's that bad. If you don't have an engine hoist, don't go out of your way to remove the motor.

If you do pull the motor, I recomend doing the whole motor/tranny as one. I find it a lot easier than leaving the tranny in there. I've done it both ways and it went a lot easier and faster just taking the whole thing out as one.

Jake Johnson

Got the heads off but i cant get the block drain plug out. will i be ok to install heads without draining the coolant in the block. Its a hex bolt and i cant get it off...what a PITA!

WhiteFoxGT

should be ok

Xemeth

It'll be fine. I never drain the block when I do heads on any car. Whatever comes out when the heads come off comes out, then I just fill it accordingly when it's back together and ready to start.

zero2005

dont forget, you'll need new head bolts! get ARP head studs, so much easier- well not easier, but cooler and makes it better incase you need/want to swap heads later since they are reusable...

and i agree, taking the motor and tranny out together is soo much easier -- if you try to do the motor seperate, the 2 bolts for the transmission on top can be a bitch, especially if they are torqued down too tight, there's like no space, and the chance to strip those bolts are increased...

i couldnt get the valve covers off with the motor in the car, because i needed some kinda angled socket and it was just such a pain, but i was taking the hole thing out anyways... so it wasnt that big of a deal for me.

i now have stainless steel short head bolts for the head covers, def a good idea, i hate those stupid nasty looking prongs that are on the original bolts just so they can clip the damn harness with their crappy connectors lol