Ive got one head off no problems at all, but the drivers side which had the gasket leak is being a little more difficult....ive soaked it in PB Blaster for three days now and Im only getting a little movement? I cant tell whats keeping it so freaking sealed? I also cant get a grip on anything to pull out with, Im scared ****less to smack it with a hammer so what do I do? Motor is still in the car by the way so not a ton of play room in my 46 ford bay.
I popped the heads loose on our '47 by cranking the motor with the ignition off. The compression popped the heads just enough to get a pry bar between the block and head. You'll have to work around the head so as not to bind it on any of the studs.
Cranking it over should pop it loose. The studs will be stuck in the head, that's what is holding it. Pour some "Weasel piss" on the studs and let it soak in. A stud puller is required on some jobs.
Be sure to leave some loose studs in your head so the head doesnt lay on your lap after it "shuttles" to orbit.
The old engine mechanic at work tell tales of having to sledge hammer aluminum heads into pieces to get them off the studs. Probably one of the reasons they went to bolts. I'd use a dead blow mallot and rap it on the heavier areas of the castings (corners) and lots of penetrant on the studs. It's all a game of patience. Flatman
lotsa luck....just went thru that this past weekend with a model a that rusted itself to the studs. required hammering screwdrivers, chisels wedges etc at the gasket to get it moving finishing up with an old model t driveshaft as a prybar for the last 2 inches. crude and abusive i know but sometimes drastic measures are what it takes....fwiw i use bolts coated with antiseize when i put alum. heads on .....
Well Ive gone through an entire can of PB and 3 days of waiting so im going with the blow hammer idea next! ..........thanks for chiming in on this one Tim! Pm me your number when you get a chance.
My old boss said they would put rope in the cylinders then crank it and it would push up on the head. I never saw it done while I worked for him. I think he knew what he was doing. He was in his late 60's this was in the early 1980's. Also the engines weren't as old and rusted up as they are now.
The Jalopy Journal
