I have to pull the heads on my lt1 for porting and polishing. Can someone tell how to do this with out undoing the radiator hoses to the water pump. I need to get the fluid out before i unbolt them and I know its going to be a mess. Should I pull the Knock sensors-will this release the fluid in the heads?

Thanks

 

The knock sensor is a good place to drain the block. Most of the coolant from the heads will drain down into the block and come out there. Some won't but it will not be a lot left.

There is a petcock drain on the radiator. The radiator should be drained also.
The intake will have to come off so the top coolant hose has to be disconnected.
Use shop towels to dry up whatever coolant spills out of the heads into the cylinders or where ever it spills.

You will need a good 1/2" drive pull handle to get the head bolts loose.
You will need a torque wrench to torque the head bolts during reassembly.

If you are going to port the heads yourself, you will need a couple of air grinders and a LOT of stones,sanding rolls,etc. A good compressor is a must.

The thing you will need the MOST of is patience.
Plan on spending a week or so per head minimum... I know... Some will say they did theirs in a day or an hour,etc.
Maybe I'm just slow, or careful or meticilous or **** or whatever but I can spend a couple months on just one head, easily.
Be SURE and wear eye protection.
Some Dykem is handy to match the ports to the gaskets. A spray can of paint can be used also to port match.

Have a good 3, 4,5 or however many angle valve job you want, done on the heads after you finish porting them.

I'm a little curious.... as to why you are concerned about disconnecting the radiator hoses to the pump? Concern over drowning the opti sparkaroo?

 

The radiator hoses dont need to come off at all, this is an LT1 so neither hoses connect to the intake manifold. Try putting compressed air through the 2 heads via the coolant pipes connected to the rear of both heads. Blow air into there until no more water comes out and the heads should be cleared of coolant then.

 

So, Just unplug the knock sensors and let them drain and then blow compressed air into the back of the heads. I just dont want to create more of a mess than needs to be done. This engine has been a pain in my behind. Rebuilt and losing more oil than before it was rebuilt. Builder says it the heads, not the rings. So I will take the heads off , bring them to him and as long as he is looking for the leak he might as well port and polish.

 

Where can it be going in the heads???

 

Valve seats or seals?

 

Drain the radiator and block and you'll be fine.

 

I'd take the pressure cap off of the surge tank too!