Lessons Learned on L98 Cyl. Head Replacement
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
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From: Palmdale CA
Lessons Learned on L98 Cyl. Head Replacement
1. Get a pack of index cards, permanent marker and ziplocks. Label everything and add notes and pics to card (labeling the two Inner Plenum Torx Bolts saved me from insanity, as I was trying to figure out how the heck I was going to get those torx bolts behind the fuel injectors).
2. Take digital photo's of everything.
3. The Machine Shop that did my heads, was also very willing to hot-tank the rest of the parts, like the filthy intake manifold, acces. brackets and valve train parts. Sure works better than trying to clean 20 year old, baked on grease and grime yourself, that's for sure! Take a photo of the intake from all sides before disassembling the dozen parts that hang off've it. The two sensors on the front have the same threading, so you'd better know which one went where!
4. Clean the engine compartment! Including the front crossmember (mine was coated 3/4 of an inch thick in hardened grease from a power steering hose leak and so was everything else in front of the block) Narrow plastic scrapers sure helped out.
5. When in ask for help! Don't be afraid to walk away and think about it. I thought I was missing an upper plenum torx bolt, but looking around, I saw that the throttle cables actually have a built in bracket that has the 'missing' bolt.
6. Adjust the valves before you put on the intake manifold and add the accessories!
7. Install the AIR tube that goes across the front of the block before you put on the accessories, as it runs behind the accessory brackets on the left and right side and there is no way to fit it in there afterwards.
8. Assemble the intake and the plenum before you assemble the accessory brackets on the front of the heads and the block. Because you'll have to remove the left side accessory brackets to put the left valve cover on. Before installing the acces. brackets, put on the valve covers.
8. The ARP intake manifold bolts are nice, but I'd go with the stock Torx bolts next time. The low profile of the Torx bolts makes installing the TPI runners easy. I had to lift the fuel rail up, to get the runners to go in and mate with the manifold correctly.
10. The hard fuel lines and a section of the AIR line runs through the Air Cond. Compressor bracket. Carefully note the orientation of these as there's JUST enough room and none more.
11. Finally an ideal C-4 mechanic should be an expert at Rubik Cubes and wooden block puzzles. They'll also have hands the size of a five year old, and the mechanical wherewithall of Grumpy Jenkins, because the L-98 is one big puzzle, even with the factory service manual!
I'm almost done and hopefully (pray hard!) it'll start. It sure looks good!
2. Take digital photo's of everything.
3. The Machine Shop that did my heads, was also very willing to hot-tank the rest of the parts, like the filthy intake manifold, acces. brackets and valve train parts. Sure works better than trying to clean 20 year old, baked on grease and grime yourself, that's for sure! Take a photo of the intake from all sides before disassembling the dozen parts that hang off've it. The two sensors on the front have the same threading, so you'd better know which one went where!
4. Clean the engine compartment! Including the front crossmember (mine was coated 3/4 of an inch thick in hardened grease from a power steering hose leak and so was everything else in front of the block) Narrow plastic scrapers sure helped out.
5. When in ask for help! Don't be afraid to walk away and think about it. I thought I was missing an upper plenum torx bolt, but looking around, I saw that the throttle cables actually have a built in bracket that has the 'missing' bolt.
6. Adjust the valves before you put on the intake manifold and add the accessories!
7. Install the AIR tube that goes across the front of the block before you put on the accessories, as it runs behind the accessory brackets on the left and right side and there is no way to fit it in there afterwards.
8. Assemble the intake and the plenum before you assemble the accessory brackets on the front of the heads and the block. Because you'll have to remove the left side accessory brackets to put the left valve cover on. Before installing the acces. brackets, put on the valve covers.
8. The ARP intake manifold bolts are nice, but I'd go with the stock Torx bolts next time. The low profile of the Torx bolts makes installing the TPI runners easy. I had to lift the fuel rail up, to get the runners to go in and mate with the manifold correctly.
10. The hard fuel lines and a section of the AIR line runs through the Air Cond. Compressor bracket. Carefully note the orientation of these as there's JUST enough room and none more.
11. Finally an ideal C-4 mechanic should be an expert at Rubik Cubes and wooden block puzzles. They'll also have hands the size of a five year old, and the mechanical wherewithall of Grumpy Jenkins, because the L-98 is one big puzzle, even with the factory service manual!
I'm almost done and hopefully (pray hard!) it'll start. It sure looks good!
Last edited by F22; Sep 29, 2008 at 04:51 PM.
Amen! I felt your pain last year. But it's worth the effort.
