Head Gaskets for the 3.0

[BLACKDOG]

Ok here it goes.  you can do this with a good selection of sockets and wrenches, and a cheater bar.  haveing both deep sockets and normal is helpful, as well as having many different sizes of extensions.  we used both 3/8" and 1/4" sockets, which helped out in small spaces. LABEL ALL HOSES!!!!  Permanent marker works well.  I just did a letter system A on hose, A on matching attachment.  It makes life a lot easier.  This is a work in progress, so I will correct myself and add bolt sizing as i go along.
1. disconnect battery, we just took it out, gives you a good work tray
2. drain radiator
3. remove fan shroud (3 nuts on the backside of the radiator, 2 on passenger side, 1 on drivers side) 10mm
4. remove fan (4 nuts on the hub of the fan) 10mm
5. remove radiator (tip, take of radiator cap when draining, otherwise the pressure will make the suystem retain water.  4 nuts, 2 on each side on my truck they are 11mm, but i think stock they are 10mm)
6. remove airfilter stuff (dont have stock system so i dunno)
7. remove overflow reservior
8. label spark plug wires, leave attached to distributor cap then remove cap
9. mark the clocking of the distributor, then remove it
10. remove water thing sticking out of timing cover ( no idea what it is) two nuts, 10mm
11. remove the alternator and bracket

Timing- I didnt bother to mark the pulleys and belts the second time around, we discovered it is easier IMO to just time it how the book says, instead of trying to keep track of where everything is, especially since the belt will move around the crankshaft pulley

11. remove timing cover, find all the bolts, not sure how many I beleive 10mm as well
12. remove tensioner bolt and spring DO NOT DROP INTO LOWER TIMING COVER
13. you will have to break loose the camshaft timing pulleys.  It is a 17mm bolt i beleive, and this is where air is handy.  If it is not available, get a pry bar and have a partner wedge the pulley to keep them from turning. break them loose and pull them off.  Just let the belt hang down.
14. start disconnecting hoses and lines from the upper intake.  label them all well.  remove the accelerator cable from the throttle body.  take the throttle body off the upper intake.  You might not have to, but i did.  Upper intake bolts are all 12mm I beleive. 
15.  Once you remove the upper intake, the lower intake is not difficult.  DO NOT REMOVE FUEL RAILS it is a waste of time and energy., plus it is a pain in the    Remove the bolt on the back of the pass. side fuel rail (24mm wrench) dont lose the 2 washers that come with it.  once that is removed, you can start pulling bolts on the lower intake.  at the back of the intake is a diamond shaped thing with some electrical connections.  pull the two nuts thathold that down, you need to remove it to remove the rear nuts of the lower intake. I believe they are 12mm as well.  the lower intake has studs at the very front and very back instead of bolts.  That diamond shaped thing i left hangin from the wires, makes it easier than dealing with the connections IMO
16.  in the middle of the valley is the knock sensor, get a new one.
17. reomove drivers side valve cover(10mm)
18. mark camshaft position with marker, then remove things holding cam in place.  pull them and the cam out, placing everything in valve cover
19.remove head bolts in the order of the book. (14mm)


this is where you can go a few different ways.  You can get to the same point on the pass. side head, and then break loose the nuts on the exhaust down pipe on the drivers side.  Then you can pull the heads off together, and not worry about the manifolds or crossover pipe.  I couldnt do this because on of my downpipe bolts is rounded off.
I took off the back three nuts on the exhaust manifold, and also the 6 holding the manifold to the head.  (14mm) Its ok if you break loose a stud instead of the nut, just pull it out and treat it like a bolt.

once you get everything dsiconnected, you should be able to pull the head off.  Good luck, you might need to pry a little.

This is the point where I am at right now, more to come as my project continues

[79coyotefrg]

good job,  kinda chuckled when you labeled the sparkplug wires but at least you know you can get it back right,  not everybody knows how to reinstall by firing order

keep us informed,    pics are always good

[BLACKDOG]

pics are on my headgasket thread actually.  I will post the link here

As for the spark plugs, a few years ago, my dad, a mechanic friend, and me were workin on my dodge, we took of the dizzy, and the mechanic put it back on and put all the plugs back in and the wires on, well needless to say, he went and screwed it up, and we wound up lighting the the sound deadener on the hood on fire, cause the firing order was so off and the timing was way screwed.

[79coyotefrg]

   me thinks friend not much mechanic


but thats a good that you labeled everything

[BLACKDOG]

me thinks so too, but I have learnd my lesson on lableing, it doesnt matter how, as long as you do it.

[UNBREAKABLE]

nice job

[weirdtimes_7]

HELL YA, this is awesome... i will need this in the future... i just know it, HAHA]

military_stang