Smash03

Just found out my 82 civic has a blown head gasket. I have never done a real head gasket replacement before. Is there anything anyone can recommend to do while I change it out? I figured I might as well do a timing belt and water pump replacement while I'm there.

Smash03

Can anyone tell me the specs for torquing down the head bolts?

ke7joi

What engine are you working on

Rodney Williams

When Iget home I will give u the specs I have a list for every honda car ever made

Smash03

EM1 engine. I barely have any time to work on it but so far I was able to get the ac compressor out the way and removed the carburetor. What's the easiest way to remove the intake and exhaust manifold?

Smash03

I ordered a haynes manual but they're on back order from where I ordered it from so its taking a lil longer to get here. But I need the car running soon. I tried looking online for the correct procedure but its hard to come across one that was really helpful.

Can anybody point me in the right direction? I already got the ac compressor, carb, and driver side engine mount off.

GrumpyOne

When I remove a head from a Gen II Civic, I include the head/intake-exhaust manifold/carb/vacuum lines and control boxes all as a single unit. Disconnect all electrical and main vacuum line connections to the control boxes, accelerator cable at the carb, etc. Doing this saves you the trouble of disconnect the zillion vacuum lines.

Once the whole assembly is removed, it is a lot easier to separate the intake manifold assembly from the head and replacing that gasket is a lot easier.

Of course you do have to remove the coolant hoses etc. as well but that should be obvious.

Good Luck!

Smash03

I'm actually having a hard time with this. I've done it a few times on newer cars so I'm just transferring the knowledge to this engine but doesn't seem to be right. Can anyone help me with a write up?

400whp_94teggy

take off your intake manifold, exhaust manifold, disconnect you distributor connector, remove your valve cover, make sure to disconnect EVERYTHING that's connected to the head connecter etc. but remember where they all go, if you have a poor memory just lable all the little stuff with blue tape , or scotch tape . when your valve cover is off youl have to remove the brackets that hold your cams down , be organized when putting brackets and cams to the side , at this point you can un torque your head bolts and pull off the head ( be sure youv disconnected hoses , connecters etc) buy new head bolts and head gasket , hand tighten head studs into block ( 20ft pounds )clean head gasket surface and bottom of head, place gasket over head studs put head back on, and torqe the head bolts down to spec(there is a torque sequence also,refer to manuel). arps have there own torqe specs but follow Hondas sequence, when putting cams back in they with fit they way you took them out, torque brackets down to spec ,connect all the little stuff hoses connectors etc , set your timing and your good to go!

GrumpyOne

I think that you'll have a tough time finding "new" head bolts for gen II Civics and as far as I can tell, no manual calls for their replacement as opposed to later engines that do call for new head bolts.

The original poster did not specify as to what engine was involved, 1300 or 1500. Both call for 41 ft. lbs of torque but the 1500 is more sensitive since the block is cast iron as opposed to the 1300 which is aluminum. It's critical to check the torque on the bolts several times over the first 10,000 miles due to different expansion coefficients.

Smash03

Thanks for the heads up. I actually ordered a Haynes manual to help me on this.

2ndGenGuy

The only way you'll get new head bolts, is if you measure yours and call ARP. There is probably an application that will fit. I used D16Y headbolts in my 81 Accord. Blew 2 head gaskets before, since I put in the ARP studs, I've gone a few years without head gasket issues.

keoh

I'm thinking of replacing the head gasket on an '86 DX . . .

A couple of questions :

1.
@grumpyOne :
I didn't get what you meant there by "include" . . . "as a single unit".
Can you explain what exactly are you doing there that makes disassembly different than the usual ?

2.
@400whp_94teggy

What's the reason for :
Wouldn't the camshaft just be coming out with the head ?

3.
Also, I haven't examined the engine in any great detail yet (it's my nephew's car) but I've done quite a few head gasket jobs before . . .

Is there anything in particular as to the difficulty of this that I should know up front ?
I'm talking about things like, for example . . . "you'll have a hell of a time getting the timing belt cover off ", (as in my Ford Escort), etc.
Maybe it's all very routine - to me, it looks like a pretty small engine, so it appears it'd be an easy job, all things considered.
Just curious.

Thanks a lot.

Kent
San Francisco

GrumpyOne

My advice only applies to 1980-83 Gen II Civics. I have no experience with later years.

keoh

Ok thanks . . .
I'm still wondering what you meant by that post of yours above though.
Any chance you could explain ?
Thanks !

GrumpyOne

1984 and up Civics had major changes and I have no experience in that arena..