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FAQ: How to replace headgasket

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Old 11-20-2004, 06:34 PM
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Default FAQ: How to replace headgasket

Well People have been buggin me that pix that i had on my old thread didnt work very well so this weekend i was doing the headgasket change and i decided to do the write up once again and throw in the timing belt and water pump. So here it goes enjoy.

BTW I do Take Paypal donations for my website

For more of my write ups check out

Http://www.JDMLyfeStyle.com


Tools needed
Good Torqe Wrench
Rachet with 10, 12, 14, 19 sockets
12mm wrench
Needle nose pliars or channel locks for removing coolant hoses
Flat head screw driver

Step 1
Pull your car onto a level solid service. would not recommend doing this in a gravel driveway. Be sure that your E-Brake Is Engaged. also i put blocks behind the rear tires.




step 2
Jack up the car and place the jackstands in the spot shown.BTW look how straight that damn exhaust is




Step 3
Remove the Negative Battery Terminal. I would do this when doing any work under the hood.

Step 4
Pop the Cap off the Radiator (Do not remove cap if Engine is still hot) Pull the plug on the radiator to flush all the fluid out of the cooling system. Put in a appropriate container and dispose of it properly






Step 5
Remove the 12mm bolts holding on your header and take the header off the car. remove the bolts holding it on to the cat. In my case i just have an exhaust clamp on to be able to remove it quickly to run open header.





Step 6
Take a 19mm rachet and remove the freeze plug located on the front of the block. this will get all of the coolant out from the water jackets



Step 7
Remove the radiator hose from the thermostat housing. pull it up as high as you can to get all of the coolant out(picture 1)
while your in that area unplug the distributor connector.
Also remove the coolant hose going into the bottom of the intake manifold (picture 2)




Step 8
unplug the following things
Upper radiator hose
other coolant hose going into the side of the head
water temperature sensor
Vtec Solenoid
lol and i forget what the other 2 are but u see the red dots










Step 9
Time to get ready to take the intake manifold off. but before we can do that we have to remove a few things
Remove the throttle cable from the throttle body. and remove the 2 10mm bolts holding it to the intake manifold
take off the vaccum line in the front of the manifold. u will see the
take off the vaccum line on the far right back of the manifold.
take off the coolant line that goes to the IACV
unpluge the map sensor, Tps sensor, IACV sensor
Take off your Fuel return line from your Fuel pressure regulator
remove the fuel line that is connected to the Fuel filter. be sure not to loose the washers!!!!. place the end of the fuel line into a sandwich baggy and put another baggy around it and zip tie so you do not spill fuel everwhere.







Step 10.
You do not have to do this if you are not getting the head resurfaced.
use a 12 mm wrench and remove the bolts holding on the intake manifold.

Step 11
remove the spark plug wires and remove the 10mm Valve cover bolts and remove the Vent tube going from your Valve cover to your Intake.







Step 12
This is where it gets fun
Be sure the engine is at TDC on the cams and crank. Line up the white line on the crank pulley with the timing mark on your lower timing cover.
be sure the Cams lines are lined up straight from each other and the cam gears are marked up






Step 13
take a 14mm socket and release the tension on the tensioner. that is located in the lower timing cover right above the crank pulley



step 14.
remove the timing belt. be sure not to jerk it around. you dont wanna mess up the alignment of the teeth.



step 15
I would recommend doing this step as well
take a 19mm and remove the oil pan bolt and let the oil drain out. Since you are doing this might as well change the oil.

Step 16
take a 12mm and remove the 3 bolts holding on the distributor

step 17
Now take a 10mm (yellow) and 12mm (red) and remove the cam cap cover bolts
you need to do this in the following sequence on the 12 mm bolts
1 7 9 5 3
4 6 10 8 2






step 18
now gently pry up the cam caps and remove the cam seals..IMPORTANT YOU MUST KEEP THE CAM CAPS IN THE SAME ORDER!!!!!!!!





Step 19
remove the cams. place them in a plastic wrap and keep a light layer of oil on them put them somewhere will they will not be disturbed.

step 20
Remove the 12mm cylinder head bolts in the following sequence (Or a 1/2" 12point if you have ARP Head Studs.)
1 7 9 5 3
4 6 10 8 2



Step 21
remove the Head. i was doing this solo coming off head studs so this is the best way i can get the head off.




Step 22
use a lint free cloth...i used a microfiber cloth and use some sore of cleaning agent.. in this case i used Sea foam deep creep. and clean the block surface and inspect for any damagaes.

Step 23 (optional but recommended)
Take the head to a machine shop to have it inspected for warpage and have it resurfaced
In my case i shaved off .04"


Now its time to put it back together
Be sure to install the headgasket right. line up all the ports and waterjackets



you it is recommended that you get new head bolts. I did not. i went with ARP Head stud kit $105 from prostreetonline.com. Honda dealer wanted $140 for the 10 head bolts (1 time use only)

Now since that we have the Cylinder head off and some extra room to work lets get that damn timing belt and water pump changed.


Step 1. place a jack under the oil pan and lift it til you feel some resistance from the oil pan.



Step 2. Remove the 3 motor mount bolts 2 (14mm) 1 (17mm)





Step 3 Remove the 10mm bolts off the lower Timing belt cover i believe there is 6 of them



Step 4. Now its time to get that damn Crank pulley off. It was 3 in the morning so the Impact was out of the question for me. So i had to stick a pry bar between the flywheel and tranny and wedged the handle against the motor. then took a breaker bar and put a Pole on it and broke the Bolt loose.






Step 5. Now you can remove the crank pulley and lower timing belt cover.. NOTE!!! DO NOT LOOSE THE KEYWAY FOR THE CRANK PULLEY



Step 6 Now pull offf the Old Timing belt. and throw it away or keep it for a back up your choice

Step 7 Take a 14mm rachet and remove the 14mm bolt on the Tensioner. then take a pair of needle nose pliars and remove the Spring on the tensioner.




On the Left we have our Old Tensioner and spring. on the right brand new OEM honda tensioner and spring from ProstreetOnline.



Step 8. Take your 10mm and remove the 5 10mm bolts holding on the waterpump.



Step 9 Remove the water pump.



Step 10 Now install your gasket on your new water pump and install it the opposite way you removed it.



Step 11 Install your new Tensioner. Notice there is a big hole and a little hole on the tensioner. the big hole goes onto a nipple on the block. and the little hole is for the spring.





Step 12. Take your new Timing belt (Also OEM honda From Prostreetonline.com) and install it around the timing gear, water pump, and Tensioner.






Step 13. Now Install your Lower timing belt cover and crank pulley (DONT FORGET THE DAMN KEY WAY!!!!
Now you put your cylinder head back on (Thats if you have take in off)
1,Place head on block and torqe down the head bolts or studs
2,install cams
3. Install Cam Caps in correct order
4 Install Cam Plate and torqe all the bolts down properly
5. NOW triple check and Be sure that the cams are At TDC and the timing marks are lined up. as well as the TDC mark on the crank pully ( white line)


When you install the cam cap cover back on be sure to torqe the 10mm bolts to 7 Ft lbs first
and then torqe the 12 mm bolts to 20 ft lbs in the following sequence be very careful not to torqe them too fast or you will snap a bolt off like i did. do it very slowly.
9 5 1 3 7

8 4 2 6 10

When you are torqing down the headbolts with Honda Head bolts you want to do this in a 3 step form
step one 21 ft lbs then back off 1/2 a turn
step two 42 ft lbs then back off 1/2 a turn
step three 63 ft lbs of torqe and your done
this must be done in the following sequence

9 5 1 3 7

8 4 2 6 10

Now just do everything backwards. You might want to replace the intake manifold and exhaust manifold gasket while your at it. and put your fluids in last

This has been another JDMLyfeStyle write up Im out. Lata bitches

JDMLyfeStyle



Modified by JDMlyfestyle at 5:28 PM 6/22/2006
Old 11-20-2004, 06:39 PM
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Very good write up man, this will come in handy
Old 11-20-2004, 06:40 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

Old 11-20-2004, 06:41 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

awesome write up man, how long did it take you to actually do all of the work?
Old 11-20-2004, 06:43 PM
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can be done in about 3-4 hours easily. machine work on the head only took about 45 minutes. so that gave me time to install the studs and have a quick drink..lol
Old 11-20-2004, 07:13 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

Good Write up! Also if doing this on a single cam you don't need to take the cam out
Old 11-20-2004, 07:29 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (tony)

Old 11-20-2004, 07:39 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (phoshEEzy)


Very nice write up man. This should help a lot of ppl, I could have used it a month or two ago.

Nice pics too, looks clean!
Old 11-20-2004, 07:41 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (phoshEEzy)

good job i plan to do that on my car soon props for the car it looks sweet and is the second car ive seen with a cf hood that looks good
Old 11-20-2004, 07:48 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

good write up
Old 11-20-2004, 08:12 PM
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Good stuff as usual
Old 11-20-2004, 08:13 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

Very nice. I do have a question thought. Is it ok to get the head resurfaced with the valves and everything still in? I am going to be doing a head gasket in a few days and wasn't sure. It will be on a D16Z6 if that makes any difference.

Old 11-20-2004, 08:28 PM
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you can have a head resurfaced if you still have the valves in as long as the valves are not flush with the head itself it has to be domed like honda heads are.
Old 11-20-2004, 08:44 PM
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Default Re: (JDMlyfestyle)

nice write up
Old 11-20-2004, 08:57 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

Great write-up!


You can use these diagrams if you like.

Reverse for removal sequence

Old 11-20-2004, 09:10 PM
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Default Re: (AzntaggeR)

Very nice write up
Old 11-20-2004, 09:13 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

excellent write up. thanks for taking the time.

were you using a manual (helms) while doing this? would the procedure in the manual be the same or similar?



edit: lol, just read the thread about the upside down head gasket. still nice job though. better you then me!
Old 11-20-2004, 10:04 PM
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no manual at all. went on guessing and H-T for the torqe sequence and specs
Old 11-20-2004, 11:00 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

you have pics of your underaxle exhaust? under the car...how much did you pay to get it custom made if it was.
Old 11-21-2004, 07:51 AM
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my exhaust is a RSR GTII from prostreet online.com
Old 11-21-2004, 12:13 PM
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if you break a Cam cap bolt you cannot use a D series cam cap bolt already tried it..lol
Old 11-21-2004, 12:38 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (JDMlyfestyle)

nice write up,pics and nice car.that will help alot of people
Old 11-21-2004, 12:46 PM
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Default Re: FAQ: How to replace headgasket (lsvtec-crx)

yeah, this will definately be a handy writeup for us who blow headgaskets. sure likes like quite the walk in the park to me

i hope if i ever blow a headgasket i have money at the time to replace half of my engine seing as how you gotta take 90% of it apart. once again, nice informative writeup. >>saving to harddrive<<
Old 11-21-2004, 06:42 PM
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thats what im here for is to help you guys.
Old 11-21-2004, 07:29 PM
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Default Re: (JDMlyfestyle)

this is great man.

jdmlifestyle i've been following you for a while, from when you first got your header, and were ripping it in the videos, and your website with all the times and pictures, to when you sprayed your block that silver color.

much respect and thanks alot for the write up.


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