Head alignment dowel removal?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Head alignment dowel removal?
I'm cleaning the deck surface of my block before I install some new heads and wanted to pull the alignment dowels out. How the heck do you get them out? I tried to muscle out with a pair of vise grips, but no luck. I stopped and thought I'd ask before I caused more headaches for myself.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Block is sitting in the car and will not see a machine shop this go round. I was hoping there was some little trick I could do to get them out. Do I even need to worry about removing them? Just clean around them?
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Some others may have different ideas but I would just clean around them and leave them alone.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Using Vise-Grips is a "doable" approach, but they should be a medium to large size and you should plan on replacing the dowels, as they will be damaged by the grips. Just use a long-nosed Vise-Grip...layed down onto the surface of the block...to grab the dowel as tightly as you can get it. Then place the shank of a large screwdriver under the jaws of the pliers, a bit less than an inch away from the dowel. Now you can grab the handle of the Vise-Grip and push down on it (leveraging over the screwdriver shank) while twisting the dowel CW/CCW. If the Vise-Grip will maintain its hold on the dowel, it will work its way out of the block. Then, throw it away. When you install the new one, make sure the hole is completely cleared out, then just put a light film of grease on the outside of the dowel. Be very careful to keep the dowel straight to start it...tap it to straighten if it starts to lean. Once it is started well, tap it fully down.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
leave em alone, you dont want to tool mark the deck. A little scotchbrite and some time will go a long way. and when reinstalling heads I woud suggest using "permatex" spray copper gasket sealer its for heads and works like a charm
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
I have always been able to remove and reuse by simply using vice grips tight enough they can't slip then lightly place screw driver underneath apply upwards pressure with screw driver and start to rotate back and forth with vice grips.Take your time it works.Good luck.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Thanks, I'll give it a shot. I'll put something flat between the block and tools to protect the surface. I was trying to just pull up and twist and they weren't popping out. I never thought about prying them out . . . thanks for that tip.
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