Ok after reading my manual over about 50 times I've come to the conclusion it's a piece of crap. It is sayin that I have to remove the power steering pump/ac compressor/rear motor mount/lower timing belt cover/cam gear/upper timing belt cover/timing belt and the cam before I can take the head off. Can I leave the intake manifold attached to the head after I disconnect all the wires/hoses and remove just the top timing cover and slip the belt off and mark it without having to do all that extra work? Anyone done this and can help??? thanks in advance

by the way its a civic 4dr


[Modified by uneek4dr, 2:40 AM 3/26/2003]

 

some steps. i think i have most of it covered.

disconnect battery
drain coolant - good time for a flush
drain oil - you dont have to but again a good time to do it

you can leave the intake manifold on but there are a couple bolts you will have to remove under the manifold that connects it to a support bracket. the downside is it is awkward to handle when you remove the head with it on, and you will have to remove all the electric plugs, vacuum plugs, fuel line, throttle cable, etc.

you have to seperate the exhaust manifold from the head, because you will be pulling vertically upwards to remove the head
you can leave the distributor on just make sure you remove the plugs under it. easier if you take it off though
remove upper radiator hose
remove spark plugs, a good time to replace them
remove the valve cover and upper timing belt cover
loosen tensioner, remove belt from camgear
loosen head bolts from outside to inside in incremental steps to prevent warping
just for good measure keep the studs in order to put them back where they were.
pull up with all your might and the head should come off.
scrape off head gasket, it will more than likely tear and stick, use razors and gasket scraper and remover spray junk

 

gasket swap is dead simple

1) pull dizzy off
2) pull intake manifold off (unbolt the thing an pull it back twards the firewall, there is enough room for it to rest there w/o getting in the way of anything. if you have that lower intake manifold bracket on there, take it off and throw it away. its simply a hassle.) obviously you have to disconnect your air intake @ the tbody, no biggie
3) pull of header nuts. you should be able to slide your header and entire exhaust forward and be able to totaly remove it from the head w/o any problems. our exhaust mounts give us about 1.5-2" of travel
4) take off valve cover
5) take off top timing belt cover
6) loosen timing belt tensioner bolt.
7) pull timing belt off of the cam.
8) disconnect the upper radiator hose from the head. zip tie it kinked so it doesnt leak.
9) hit the 10 head studs ( i think 10)
10) pull the head off.

you dont have to drain oil. you dont have to remove coolant. it will spill some coolant b/c the intake anifold is coming off and the upper radiator hose is coming off. just replace whatever is missing.

when putting this back together, make sure you put the motor at top dead center then put timing belt back on etc.

there will be 2 connector going to the head from the wiring harness, its up to you wether or not you want to pull them off. prolly easier if you do.


notice how intake and exhaust manifold are "unhung". i guess this will work only if your header isnt bolted into the bracket under the engine. mine isnt, that bracket destroyed itself when i pulled the stock header off and replaced w/ the aftermarket one.


[Modified by limoZeen, 10:20 PM 3/25/2003]

 

Thanks for the help. Tomorrow im rippin da bish off and maybe doing MPFI swap while i have it all apart. Thanks again!@!